Hazy & Smokey Skies to Continue Through The Weekend
/Updated: October. 3rd, 2020 @ 12:30 AM
Valid: October 3rd, 2020 @ 2:30 AM
Forecaster: James Follette
It was once again another hazy and Smokey day over much of Southern and Central portions of British Columbia as high pressure continues to dominate the province and will continue to do so as the large ridge will continue to build and head further North. This will allow for not only warmer & more humid conditions, but also for an increase in smoke & Haze to flow further over the province from the SW wind allowing smoke from the three States currently burning; Oregon, Washington, & California to cross the border.
The smoke and haze will not be as nearly as bad as the huge blanket of toxic smoke over the province in early Septembe but there will be some unhealthy air conditions over a good portion of Southern and Central BC. The AQI ( Air Quality Index) will be around Low to Moderate for many areas with only one area making it to level 6, which is the high-end of Moderate. Everypne else will be Low to Moderate, between 2 and 4.
While it will be a fairly warm and very dry weekend, there is a system that looks to bring some unsettled weather in the form of showers and much cooler temperatures over parts of Vancouver Island from Nanaimo to Campbell Island. This will reduce, if not, clear all the haze and smoke by Sunday.
Unfortunately, the dry weather will look to stretch into much of the week for Vancouver and Central & Interior desert areas. There could also be a few showers Sunday late day for extreme northern parts.
There is a pattern change coming after the weekend that will bring much cooler temperatures to the province as a series of Low pressures will flatten the jet stream, allowing for cooler Canadian air from the North to flow down. There is also some suggestions from the models that many parts of the province could see some first snow of the season by later on in the new week.
For those with medical and breathing problemssuch as Asthma and Respiratory problems should take some extra caution if going out by limiting the time out in the haze & smoke. Please wear a mask and reduce outdoor exercise.
Also, you should try and stay indoors and have the Air Conditioner on. If you know anyone that is prone to complications from smoke and is in poor health, please check on them frequently and help keep them safe. If experiencing heavy coughing, asthmatic like problems, throat irritation, etc., please go to the ER.
The smoke and haze should exit the whole province by Monday or Tuesday as the more unsettled and cooler air moves in.
