Wild fire smoke has once again pushed it's way into southeast Saskatchewan resulting in a special air quality statement to be issued.

"This smoke is from the British Columbia and Alberta fires this time, not the northern fires in Saskatchewan," explained Environment Canada's Terri Laing. "It is expected to move out of the province on late Tuesday evening and skies are expected to clear after that."

Special air quality statement in effect for:

  • R.M. of Benson including Benson
  • R.M. of Brokenshell including Trossachs
  • R.M. of Caledonia including Milestone and Parry
  • R.M. of Cambria including Torquay and Outram
  • R.M. of Cymri including Midale Macoun and Halbrite
  • R.M. of Estevan including Estevan and Hitchcock
  • R.M. of Fillmore including Fillmore Creelman and Osage
  • R.M. of Griffin including Griffin and Froude
  • R.M. of Lake Alma including Lake Alma and Beaubier
  • R.M. of Laurier including Radville
  • R.M. of Lomond including Colgate and Goodwater
  • R.M. of Norton including Pangman and Khedive
  • R.M. of Scott including Yellowgrass Lang and Lewvan
  • R.M. of Souris Valley including Tribune and Oungre
  • R.M. of Wellington including Cedoux Colfax and Tyvan
  • R.M. of Weyburn including Weyburn and McTaggart

Smoke is causing poor air quality and reducing visibility. Smoke is expected or occurring.

Westerly winds are spreading significant amounts of wildfire smoke across the Prairies and will continue to do so until a cold front pushes through the region. The cold front will move through western Saskatchewan Tuesday morning, and then slump southeastwards, moving through eastern Saskatchewan by Tuesday evening, and then across southern Manitoba on Tuesday night. As the cold front passes, cleaner air will move in from the north.

For many areas, this event will be seen by very hazy skies with moderately elevated AQHI values in the 4 to 7 range. However, due to local effects, some areas will see significant reductions in air quality, with AQHI values exceeding 7 (high) and potentially exceeding 10 (very high).

Individuals may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath. Children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are especially at risk.

Stay inside if you have breathing difficulties. Find an indoor place that's cool and ventilated. Using an air conditioner that cools and filters air may help. If you open the windows you may let in more polluted air. If your home isn't air-conditioned, consider going to a public place (library, shopping mall, recreation centre) that is air-conditioned.

Visit www.airhealth.ca for information on how to reduce your health risk and your personal contribution to pollution levels, as well as for current and forecast AQHI values.

Click here to monitor the current forecast.