Air quality to worsen, temperatures to soar as wildfire smoke settles in southern Manitoba

Smoke drifting from raging wildfires in Western Canada and northern Ontario is expected to bring hazy conditions, soaring temperatures and deteriorating air quality in southern Manitoba until the end of July.

Environment and Climate Change Canada said the wildfire smoke is moving across the Prairies, plaguing much of northern Alberta and northern Saskatchewan.

But an upper-ridge system shifting eastwards from B.C. and Alberta is pushing temperatures up and stagnating the air in Manitoba, allowing the smoke that's already in the atmosphere to settle in the province later this week.

"The air quality will deteriorate significantly as the week progresses," Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor said.

"You will start to see the visibility decrease, you'll get much stronger incidents of that smell of smoke, and people who have compromised respiratory conditions are going to struggle a bit more as those smoke concentrations increase."

With the concentration of smoke poised to ramp up, the temperature in southern Manitoba will also likely soar, increasing the fire danger.

"It's going to be a sort of two-pronged attack, of both more smoke in the atmosphere and then warmer temperatures," said Proctor.

Thundershowers and showersforecast for late afternoonMondaycouldbring some relief. But with little to no chance of rain until at leastthe weekend, Proctor said, smoky and warm conditions will likely hold right through the end of July in southern Manitoba.

WATCH |April clean-air centre simulation gives City of Winnipeg staff practice ahead ofwildfire season:

Clean-air centre simulation gives City of Winnipeg staff practice ahead of wildfire season

4 months ago

Duration 1:56

The City of Winnipeg and other partners practised what to do in the event of an air quality emergency, ahead of what is expected to be another destructive and smoky wildfire season.