Vancouver Island is soon to be covered in a blanket of wildfire smoke coming from the blazes in BC’s interior and Alberta.
By the end of the day Wednesday, experts predict the smoke will have arrived over Greater Victoria and the northern and eastern regions of the island.
A smoke forecast feed is available online which shows how the smoke from wildfires throughout the country is dispersed and the feed shows that most of western Canada will be dealing with varying degrees of smoke inhalation.
Wildfire smoke is affecting areas of the Prince George, Northwest, Cariboo and Southeast fire centres today as a result of wildfires in Alberta and in the Peace Region. Smoke is forecast to linger and potentially increase over the coming days. #BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/5aW2cA5JkS
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) May 17, 2023
Victoria’s exposure to the smoke will be noticeable but still low in comparison to central Alberta and BC’s interior. Vancouver Island’s smoke exposure will largely be due to the three wildfires in the Lower Mainland and the Sunshine Coast.
BC’s Air Quality Index has Victoria and most of the island at a level three on their scale which is still considered low, but that could change just as easily as the winds shift.
When exposure is still considered low, even at-risk people such as asthmatics should still be able to enjoy most of their regular outdoor activities according to the province.
According to the Air Quality Index, nothing is predicted to worsen by Thursday night.
