A shift in the winds meant Richmond residents woke up to an even thicker haze of wildfire smoke Monday morning.
An air quality advisory from Environment Canada has been extended, and on Monday afternoon Richmond scored a 10, or "high risk," on the 10-point Air Quality Health index.
“The wind and the air are flowing from the Interior of the province, where countless wildfires are burning,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald.
Richmond typically enjoys slightly better air quality since it’s close to the water and gets a sea breeze. But now that winds have shifted directions, Richmond is blanketed in a dense layer of smoke that’s obscuring the North Shore mountains and giving the sun an eerie red glow. MacDonald said the smoke has even blown across the Strait of Georgia.
The danger is due to tiny particles of wildfire smoke. They’re so small they can easily come indoors.
On Monday afternoon, the air around YVR airport had 81 microns per cubic metre. In Richmond, that number spiked to 89. Anything above 50 is considered a health concern, MacDonald said.
“When we get to this 10+ on the scale of one to ten … it’s really the entire population who’s at risk. Our recommendation in this type of air quality is to take it easy and stay inside,” he said.
People with underlying medical conditions are advised to postpone strenuous exercise until the air quality advisory is lifted. Symptoms to watch for include chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.
Other parts of Metro Vancouver scored even worse than Richmond. The northwest and northeast scored above 10 on the 10-point scale. But in Prince George, the apocalyptic-looking smoke has lessened because the shifted winds are carrying it away.
The outflow wind, and the smoke it brings to the South Coast, are expected to persist Tuesday. But on Wednesday, MacDonald said, it looks like wind pattern could change back to a sea breeze.
“We’re expecting a marine push as we call it.”The poor air quality is expected to persist over the next few days.
