Moose Jaw was blanketed in a noticeable fog of smoke on Thursday, but it wasn’t from any local blaze.
John-Paul Cragg, Environment Canada warning preparedness meteorologist, told the Times-Herald the bulk of Southern Saskatchewan, including Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw and Swift Current, was subject to the airborne remnants of forest fires primarily from Northern Alberta, which winds have carried into the local area.
“So lots of people are seeing smoke,” he said, adding while the smoke is quite evident, its risk to people remains fairly modest. He said in Saskatchewan cities equipped to measure the Air Quality Health Index, the rating has been 4-5, which indicates a moderate risk.
On Thursday, he said people with respiratory or cardio vascular problems might consider reducing their outdoor activity until the smoke disperses, but for most people the smoky conditions should not pose much of an issue.
He said winds would likely change direction sometime on Friday, moving the smoke out of Saskatchewan.
For more on this story, read an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
