You may not see it, but it’s there. Since Wednesday, smoke from the wildfires ravaging Western Canada has reached Quebec in the form of a high-altitude veil.
The good news: The smoke, which is coming from the Prairies and northern British Columbia, is so high in the atmosphere that it will have no impact on air quality in the province. “We have no concerns for Quebec at this time,” says Michèle Fleury, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.
PHOTO NICOLE BLACKSIOUX, PROVIDED BY THE CANADIAN PRESS
Wildfires raging across Western Canada, including this one in British Columbia photographed July 30, are sending dense smoke toward the eastern part of the country.
This is a far cry from the smog episodes the province experienced last summer. According to the IQAir website, air quality in Montreal has been moderate for the past three days, and the trend will continue until at least August 7.
The smoke, which travels far, is already dispersed when it arrives in Quebec, according to Michelle Fleury, but it will be more concentrated above Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Baie-James.
Barely visible, the veil will dissipate during the week, and the cold front that will sweep across Quebec on Sunday will chase it away further. “It will create mixing, and it will disperse what remains of the smoke at that time,” adds Michèle Fleury.