Calgary should see relief from smoke by Saturday evening
Posted Aug 17, 2018 7:16 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
After a few days of intense smoke blanketing the city, drifting in from the B.C. wildfires, many are wondering when they’ll be able to breathe some fresh air.
The Air Quality Health Index in Calgary is expected to reach 9 again Friday or “High Risk”.
Meteorologist Andrew Schultz, from City TV’s Breakfast Television, said the city should be “in the clear” by Saturday evening.
“We have instability moving through, and you’ll notice that first and foremost late (Friday), as we have a chance for some showers or thundershowers, late evening and overnight. That is instability that affects things not just from the ground but higher levels of the atmosphere. That kind of stirs things up and helps to usher that smoke out of our area,” he said.
“And it will take us into Saturday and you’ll notice the influence with the system — as (Saturday’s) high temperature just above the 20 degree mark, and we have a lingering chance of some showers.”
But, Schultz said, don’t get too comfortable.
“It all depends on the wind on the other side of the Rockies, what’s happening in the upper air, and of course the wind on our side of the Rockies. Is it drawing it closer to our city? Is it holding it like a fence and keeping it at bay or is it pushing it out of the region? Tough to say — I don’t think we’re done with the smoke for the summer of 2018,” he said.
The smoke has led the City of Calgary to cancel some events and close outdoor attractions like mobile skate parks and fit parks, as well as move other events indoors.
Calgarians are advised to check ahead to make sure anything they plan to attend is still happening.
