Shift in weather could push wildfire smoke from Lower Mainland back into B.C. Interior
The smoke that has blanketed most of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley since Sunday morning could soon be gone.
An air quality advisory remains in place for the region, but Environment Canada meteorologist Alyssa Charbonneau said the smoke could be pushed out as early as Tuesday.
“Today, particularly by the water, it’s not too bad,” Charbonneau told CTV News Monday.
“In the Lower Mainland, we are expecting a shift in the weather pattern tomorrow could start to clear this out."
While the haze has diminished air quality in the region, Charbonneau said it’s still far from the conditions in B.C.’s fire zones.
“It’s nowhere near what they’re seeing in the Interior," she said.
With around 240 wildfires currently burning across the province, the smoke is presenting more challenges for suppression crews. The shift in the weather, which will push the smoke back towards the Interior, is expected to make an already difficult situation even worse.
"Unfortunately this grounds our aircraft in many areas,” said Jean Strong of the B.C. Wildfire Service.
“This is harmful for not only suppression activities but also getting in the air."
Some cooler temperatures and rain are in the forecast, however there’s also the potential for some more extreme weather.
“We do have risk of thunderstorms across much of B.C.,” Charbonneau said.
As of Monday evening, more than 25,000 properties are either under an evacuation order or alert.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.