{"id":198328,"date":"2025-09-04T01:47:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T01:47:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/198328\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T01:47:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T01:47:14","slug":"after-summer-of-clear-skies-smoke-blankets-lower-mainland-with-more-to-come-bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/198328\/","title":{"rendered":"After summer of clear skies, smoke blankets Lower Mainland \u2014 with more to come – BC"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s largely been a summer of blue skies for British Columbia\u2019s Lower Mainland this year, but that\u2019s changed with a wave of wildfire smoke rolling into the region.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Metro Vancouver Regional District has issued an air quality advisory for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley due to elevated levels of fine particulate matter causing hazy conditions across the region.<\/p>\n

At a Wednesday briefing, B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said conditions were expected to worsen, with much of Southern B.C. to be affected in the days to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should expect to see wildfire smoke come south in the days ahead. Weather forecasters are saying that the smoke is going to be a major factor in the next 24 to 72 hours,\u201d Parmar said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are already reports of smoke hitting communities. We do expect more smoke to arrive in the central and southern interior tonight or tomorrow, and reach Abbotsford and the coast by Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1:03
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWildfires, weather forecast remains serious issue in B.C., says forest minister\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The particulate is coming from fires near Hope and Whistler, in the Cariboo, in northern Washington state<\/a> and from as far away as the Yukon and Northwest Territories, with wind patterns driving the smoke to the South Coast.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"Get<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tGet daily National news<\/p>\n

Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.<\/p>\n

Large portions of the northern and central interior of the province<\/a> have already been dealing with smoky conditions for days.<\/p>\n

As of noon on Wednesday, the Air Quality Health Index<\/a> for Vancouver, the North Shore, Burnaby and New Westminster was listed at 10-plus, or \u201cvery high risk.\u201d Richmond and Delta were listed at a 7, or \u201chigh risk,\u201d while southern and eastern parts of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley were listed as 3, or \u201clow risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Metro Vancouver said the air quality advisory is expected to remain in place for several days, until there is a change in weather patterns.<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1:58
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDon\u2019t \u2018tough it out\u2019 says BCCDC as wildfire smoke blankets Lower Mainland\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The City of Vancouver said it had opened additional cleaner air spaces in municipal facilities<\/a> to help people get out of the smoke.<\/p>\n

The New Westminster School District has responded to the advisory by moving all outdoor activities inside as a precaution.<\/p>\n

Dr. Sarah Henderson scientific director of environmental health at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control said the smoke is arriving at the same time as a bout of unseasonably hot weather, which increases the risk it presents.<\/p>\n

\n\t\tTrending Now\n\t<\/p>\n