Hazy conditions in Ottawa as wildfire smoke blows across the capital
A haze blanketed the sky Monday in Ottawa as smoke from Quebec wildfires blew across the city
A special air quality statement is in effect for the region cautioning residents of the effects of wildfire smoke over the next couple of days.
"Smoke plumes from local forest fires as well as forest fires in Quebec have resulted in deteriorated air quality. Poor air quality will persist through the day today and possibly through Tuesday for some areas," Environment Canada says.
"Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour."
People with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke, the weather agency says.
As of 3 p.m. Monday, the condition at the Ottawa Airport was officially listed as "smoke" according to Environment Canada.
Ottawa Public Health says when the air quality is low because of pollution, such as wildfire smoke, people should reduce time outdoors when outdoor air pollution levels are high. Avoid strenuous outdoor work, exercise, and playtime; stay indoors in a cool, well-ventilated place and plan indoor activities for children.
If you must be outside, try to schedule your activities early in the morning when pollution levels are lowest.
If you experience symptoms such as tightness in your chest, wheezing, or shortness of breath, seek medical attention.
John Ciliberto and Mike Dore spend about 30 hours a week working outside painting, usually under clear sunny skies. But on Monday there was a change.
"It’s a little different than it was yesterday for sure," said Ciliberto. "A lot more smoggier."
Dore adds, "Today is like a haze and you could see the smoke and feel it in your lungs."
Gatineau is under a smog warning.
"The current situation is worrying," said Quebec public health director Luc Boileau in a news release, originally in French. "It requires paying attention to public notices and alerts regarding the presence of smoke or air quality. We recommend that the entire population follow the instructions in order to protect their health from the effects of smoke, especially for the most vulnerable people, i.e. those who suffer from lung or heart problems."
Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips says the smoky conditions will get worse over the next day or two.
"Sometimes the weather moves from west to east," said Phillips. "In this case, the smoke is coming down the Ottawa Valley. It's almost a fumigating situation. It doesn't seem too bad right now but overnight and tomorrow it really picks up."
OTTAWA FORECAST
The forecast calls for a mainly cloudy evening with a 40 per cent chance of showers and the risk of a thunderstorm. Clouds should clear overnight, but widespread smoke is expected to linger. The low is 14 C.
Tuesday's forecast is mainly sunny with widespread smoke. Clouds move in by the afternoon bringing a 40 per cent chance of showers and the risk of a thunderstorm. High 21 C.
Wednesday's forecast is cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of showers and a high of 17 C.
It's not known when the wildfire smoke will clear out of the region. The smoke forecast on firesmoke.ca suggests smoky conditions could last into Wednesday afternoon.
--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Jackie Perez.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A 'tragedy that can't be measured': North Bay's forever chemical problem is also the rest of Canada's
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Questlove was not happy with Drake and Kendrick Lamar's beef: 'Nobody won the war'
While some may have been excited and/or amused by the diss-track feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the man many consider to be an elder statesman of hip-hop appears less than enthused about it.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.