Update: Metro Vancouver has ended the Air Quality Advisory, saying that “Air quality has improved due to a change in weather and more favourable winds.”
Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley residents are being urged to use caution as an air quality warning is in place to start the week.
The Metro Vancouver Regional District issued the air quality advisory in the eastern parts of the region, as well as the Central and Eastern Fraser Valley. It added that the alert will remain in effect until further notice.
According to the advisory, there is elevated ground-level ozone (smog) and fine particulate matter in the air that may impact health.
Eric Zimmer/Daily Hive
“Hot and sunny weather in combination with local emissions has resulted in elevated levels of ground-level ozone,” said Metro Vancouver in a release. “Smoke from the Sailor Bar wildfire burning north of Yale in the Fraser Canyon has resulted in elevated levels of fine particulate matter in the Eastern Fraser Valley.”
“Smoke concentrations may vary widely across the region as winds, temperatures, and wildfire behaviour changes.”
Temperatures will remain high in the first part of the week, with Metro Vancouver set to reach 24°C on Monday and Tuesday.
But temperatures inland are forecast to reach a high of 30°C on Monday and 29°C on Tuesday. And the humidex will make things feel up to 35°C inland.
“There’s an upper ridge in place and well in control for the next week,” said ECCC meteorologist Matt Loney.
“The airshed is closed off mostly by mountains, and there’s not a lot of air movement in the forecast. In a dry and stable scenario, you get exhaust emissions and particulate matter circulating in the area, which can produce smog when the air is compressed down close to the surface.”
Things to know during the air quality warning
The Metro Vancouver Regional District advises avoiding strenuous outdoor activities while ozone levels are high.
Those in the affected areas are advised to postpone or reduce outdoor physical activity at this time. Some people are more at risk from the high concentrations of ozone than others, including:
people with underlying conditions (e.g., asthma, lung disease, heart disease)
pregnant people
older adults
children and infants
It’s important to seek out cool, clean air when possible during the air quality warning. Folks can find relief by running a portable HEPA air cleaner and spending time in public buildings with large indoor spaces and air conditioning, like libraries and community centres.
With files from Daily Hive staff