In addition to the smoky weather in Vancouver, Environment Canada calls for the risk of thunderstorms throughout the day today.
On Friday, Sept. 18 the federal forecasting department calls for a 60 percent chance of showers this morning. It also says there is the risk of thunderstorms this afternoon, as well as widespread smoke.
Later this evening, the forecast calls for showers and a risk of thunderstorms. Widespread smoke is also expected to become, "local smoke" overnight. A weather system forecast later today is expected to bring improvements tonight into Saturday. Localized smoke concentrations may vary widely across the region as winds and temperatures change, and wildfire behaviour changes.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the eleventh day in a row for Metro Vancouver due to several wildfires burning south of the border.
Saturday's forecast also calls for showers during the day and cloudy skies at night.
Carmen Hartt, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, tells Vancouver Is Awesome in a phone interview that Friday's weather pattern will clear some of the smoke out of the area, but that the smoky conditions are expected to persist until next week.
On Sunday, the sun is expected to peek out during the day, with cloudy periods at night. Monday is expected to be sunny with a high of 20 degrees, while Tuesday is expected to see a mix of sun and cloud. After that, rain is expected to move into the region, a low-pressure system from the Pacific brings significant precipitation to coastal B.C.,
If you're feeling unwell these days, your first thought might be to get tested for COVID-19. However, wildfires burning south of the border have created poor air quality in the Lower Mainland, which can cause a range of health effects. Find out how to tell the difference between symptoms here.
Exposure to fine particulate matter is particularly a concern for people with underlying conditions such as lung disease, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and/or diabetes, individuals with respiratory infections such as COVID-19, pregnant women and infants, children, and older adults. Individuals who are socially marginalized may also be at elevated risk.
For a way to comprehend the effects of the wildfire smoke, an app called Sh**t! I Smoke converts air quality into the number of cigarettes a person will 'smoke' in a day simply by breathing the air. Earlier this week, Vancouverites 'smoked' a staggering 8.3 cigarettes merely by breathing the air outside.
