Metro Vancouver air expected to get smoky before the weekend

The Metro Vancouver Regional District is warning locals that — although air quality has improved as of late — wildfire smoke is expected to make its way back into the area.

The district explains it expects smoke from B.C.’s wildfires to return on Thursday and Friday, and asks Vancouverites to keep an eye on its air quality map.

Air quality across the Lower Mainland — from Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay all the way to Hope — is currently rated at a two out of 10, which is considered low risk.

Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley were recently under an air quality advisory, but it was rescinded on Tuesday after a “change in weather” improved the situation.

At the time, the district noted that another shift in weather could push wildfire smoke back into the Lower Mainland.

Related article:

• Wildfire smoke is toxic, can cause many health issues: expert

Smoke remains a possibility in the area as B.C. scorches its way through its worst wildfire season on record.

There have been a total of 1899 fires in the province since the season began on April 1, burning approximately 1,752,060 hectares of land in the process.

Data from the BC Wildfire Service shows that there are 315 active wildfires burning as of Wednesday evening, 45 of which are in the Coastal region.

Wildfires and smoky skies are expected to continue to be a constant in B.C.’s summers in the future due to human-caused climate change.