Wildfire smoke expected to linger in Waterloo Region until Wednesday

Colossal wildfires continue to burn across Canada, and Waterloo Region can finally see the effects in the sky.

The haze is a result of wildfire smoke, specifically from fires burning in Manitoba and Northern Ontario.

Despite most of it staying aloft, some will venture down into the breathable air, which is a safety risk for many.

“We do see the air quality health index going up to the 'moderate' risk level, and that means that people who are vulnerable, who are susceptible to these kinds of conditions, need to watch out during this time,” said Gerald Cheng, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. 

Those at a high risk include those with lung and heart issues, though most healthy people won't notice a difference.

The smoke will linger for a couple of days, with the wind eventually changing direction and pushing in cleaner air by Wednesday.

“However, we do have to be aware that those wildfires are still in northwestern Ontario, and in Manitoba, and there's not much rain for those areas,” said Cheng. “So, if they don't get extinguished, we could have this circulation pattern that is going to carry the smoke throughout Ontario, and even as far east as Quebec.”

This year has been particularly bad for wildfires in Canada, with the season starting approximately one month early in British Columbia. In the years to come, more extreme temperatures and climate could cause higher frequency and intensity of wildfires.