A station in Port Alberni also showed a spike in particulate.
Ash was reported falling from the sky in parts of Parksville and Qualicum Beach on Wednesday evening.
A separate, citizen-run, global air quality monitoring service listed Nanaimo at 151 on their pollution scale, again the highest in B.C. and among the most polluted areas in Canada Thursday morning.
Readings were comparable to parts of the Middle East, eastern India, Indonesia and northeastern China.
Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement on Thursday, affecting residents in Parksville and Qualicum Beach, but not Nanaimo.
“The heaviest impacts on the Sunshine Coast will be on Texada Island and Powell River, with a lesser impact inland. The smoke may also be visible in areas surrounding the regions issued under the warning areas.”
As a result of the air quality, Canada Post has issued service alerts, meaning delivery has stopped, for Nanoose Bay, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, while customers in Lantzville, Nanaimo and Port Alberni may experience delays in their delivery or pickups.
Air quality conditions are expected to clear Thursday night and Friday, Aug. 15 as rain moves into the region.
The precipitation is not expected to significantly impact fire activity at the Mount Underwood site south of Port Alberni, or fire dangers in the region.
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