Yes, that’s smoke in the air.
New Westminster residents woke up to a haze over the river again this morning.
Metro Vancouver has issued an air quality advisory because of high concentrations of fine particulate matter stemming from wildfire smoke from various fires burning throughout the Pacific Northwest.
“Smoke concentrations can vary widely across the region as winds and temperatures change, and as fire behaviour changes,” a press release notes.
New West, on the heels of the fallout from Friday’s Fraser River barge fire, had briefly seen a clearing of the air thanks to clean marine air that swept through the region.
But Metro Vancouver noted that, as the region transition into the next weather pattern, the winds changed to a northwest flow, and by late evening last night (Sunday), smoke was again measurable throughout the region.
The elevated levels of fine particulate matter are expect to persist until there is a change in fire and/or weather conditions.
In the meantime, people with chronic underlying medical conditions should take heed and postpone strenuous exercise. Exposure is a particular concern for infants, older adults and those with diabetes or heart and lung disease. Anyone experiencing symptoms such as chest discomfort, shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing should follow the advice of their health-care provider.
And, with temperatures forecast to reach 29C in New West today, with highs of as much as 31C tomorrow – and heat expected to continue throughout the week - everyone is reminded to stay cool and hydrated and seek indoor spaces with air conditioning for relief from the heat and air pollution.
Real-time information about the air in Metro Vancouver is available at www.airmap.ca.
