Wildfire smoke blankets city

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This article was published 19/07/2021 (1525 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wildfire smoke shrouded Winnipeg again Monday, leaving the air thick with the smell of burning timber.

It was the second time in two weeks smoke had descended on the Manitoba capital, and if Environment Canada meteorologist Sara Hoffman is correct, it won’t be the last in the near future.

“I think we should expect to be battling or dealing with reduced air qualities of forest fire smoke until they go out and we get a significant drop in the smoke at the end of summer,” she said.

The smoke is expected to get worse Tuesday. Local forecasts were for levels of more than 250 parts per million in the morning, with afternoon levels around 30 to 50 ppm.

Fires surround southern Manitoba, with 130 active blazes in the province, as of Monday afternoon. A slew of fires in Northern Ontario forced that province to issue an emergency order for the region July 14; Saskatchewan recently announced it is “fully engaged” fighting wildfires which now number more than 160.

Manitoba announced new fire and travel restrictions across much of the province, with permanent residents in the region north of Nopiming Provincial Park and east of Lake Winnipeg asked to be ready to evacuate within an hour’s notice.

Access will be cut off to the area for non-residents as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, including from those who own cottages in the region.

Each nearby fire increases the likelihood weather systems will carry smoke into southern Manitoba, said Hoffman. Monday’s smoke came in from huge swaths of fires burning east of Lake Manitoba and in northwestern Ontario, she said.

Smoke was trapped under a ridge of air, which kept it low to the ground. While it’s not necessary for a fire to be nearby to end up causing air quality problems (smoke can travel thousands of kilometres), Hoffman said it does make it more likely.

The “heat dome” Manitoba has suffered under in recent weeks may also be contributing to the settling of smoke near the surface. A heat dome is a ridge that traps hot, descending air below it.

“That upper feature would help to stifle movement of air, and therefore forest fire smoke,” said Hoffman.

Drought has ravaged southern Manitoba, devastating crops and drying out fuel for wildfires.

Hoffman said the region may get a much-needed thunderstorm Monday night. But the system could produce moderate to severe hail in select areas, which could further damage crops. Lightning also brings a risk of adding to Manitoba’s wildfire count, she said.

Amid such conditions, Environment Canada encourages people to limit outdoor activity and to be cautious if they have any trouble breathing. They also suggest turning off air-conditioning units that draw outdoor air into the house.

People at high risk for smoke-related health problems include children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with heart or lung conditions, particularly asthma.

cody.sellar@freepress.mb.ca