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
From essential goods to common stocking stuffers, Trudeau offering Canadians temporary tax relief
Canadians will soon receive a temporary tax break on several items, along with a one-time $250 rebate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
She thought her children just had a cough or fever. A mother shares sons' experience with walking pneumonia
A mother shares with CTVNews.ca her family's health scare as medical experts say cases of the disease and other respiratory illnesses have surged, filling up emergency departments nationwide.
Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration.
A one-of-a-kind Royal Canadian Mint coin sells for more than $1.5M
A rare one-of-a-kind pure gold coin from the Royal Canadian Mint has sold for more than $1.5 million. The 99.99 per cent pure gold coin, named 'The Dance Screen (The Scream Too),' weighs a whopping 10 kilograms and surpassed the previous record for a coin offered at an auction in Canada.
Putin says Russia attacked Ukraine with a new missile that he claims the West can't stop
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday that Moscow has tested a new intermediate-range missile in a strike on Ukraine, and he warned that it could use the weapon against countries that have allowed Kyiv to use their missiles to strike Russia.
Here's a list of items that will be GST/HST-free over the holidays
Canadians won't have to pay GST on a selection of items this holiday season, the prime minister vowed on Thursday.
Video shows octopus 'hanging on for dear life' during bomb cyclone off B.C. coast
Humans weren’t the only ones who struggled through the bomb cyclone that formed off the B.C. coast this week, bringing intense winds and choppy seas.
Taylor Swift's motorcade spotted along Toronto's Gardiner Expressway
Taylor Swift is officially back in Toronto for round two. The popstar princess's motorcade was seen driving along the Gardiner Expressway on Thursday afternoon, making its way to the downtown core ahead of night four of ‘The Eras Tour’ at the Rogers Centre.
Service Canada holding back 85K passports amid Canada Post mail strike
Approximately 85,000 new passports are being held back by Service Canada, which stopped mailing them out a week before the nationwide Canada Post strike.