Special air quality statement in effect

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on August 16, 2024.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

It may have been a hit on Broadway and for the Platters but “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” is not so great when you’re outdoors in southern Alberta

And on Thursday a special air quality statement was issued by Environment Canada for some areas of southern Alberta including Lethbridge where smoke was creating a hazy shade of blue in the clear skies.

The advisory was in place until early today.

The statement said smoke was causing or expected to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility.

It noted that air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can vary considerably from hour to hour and fluctuate over short distances.

The statement said that fine particles in wildfire smoke pose the main risk to health.

For Lethbridge residents who felt the sting in their eyes on Thursday, there may be some relief today with the forecast calling for a 90 per cent chance of up to five millimetres of rain this afternoon with more possible tonight.

That rainfall was also expected in locales such as the Crowsnest Pass, Pincher Creek, Cardston, Waterton and east to Taber.

The Air Quality Health Index for Lethbridge was rated at 8 on Thursday which is considered high. It’s expected to drop to 6 today.

In some Alberta communities on Thursday such as Calgary the AQHI was listed at 10 or 10+ for Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Grande Prairie and elsewhere.

There were 116 active wildfires in the province on Thursday. Of those 57 are under control, 50 are being held and nine are considered out of control.

A total of 971 fires have been extinguished in 2024.

Human activity is the suspected cause of 484 while lightning is believed to be responsible for 412. Another 192 are under investigation.

Wildfires of note include the Jasper Wildlife Complex which has a size of about 33,048 hectares and is among those which are classified as out of control.

No forest areas are presently closed but there is a fire ban in Banff National Park.

The City of Lethbridge’s river valley fire ban also remains in effect.