By Chad Klassen

Kamloops residents taking advantage of first clear day in weeks

Aug 27, 2018 | 5:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — For the first time in weeks, the sky is blue and the Kamloops air is clear. A busy Riverside Park was indicative of a georgous August day that’s become somewhat rare. 

“It’s wonderful,” said Bob Davern, who was out for a walk at Riverside Park on Monday. “It’s been a tough go, especially with last year. It’s like you wait through the winter, and the winters haven’t been that great. You wait for summer, and then summer comes along and you get smoked out for two months.”

Davern, who also likes to play pickleball, decided to head outside the minute he saw the blue sky in the morning. He felt instantly better, both mentally and physically, without the smoke. 

“I can see the whole valley from my place, and lately it’s been like living in fog,” he noted. “You wake up and suddenly, you can see the sky, you can see the clouds, and it completely uplifts you.”

Meantime, Gerry Sherk and his son are tossing the football, taking advantage of the smoke-free day. 

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“It’s fantastic. We’re out here with the kids, nobody’s coughing,” he said. “Tanne got his respirator removed yesterday.”

Environment Canada said the people of Kamloops and the entire Thompson-Okanagan region can thank the rain that came over parts of the weekend, helping to clear the smoke. 

“It’s very helpful. A rain event’s not only the rain but it’s also the winds and a shake-up in the atmosphere,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan. “You need the atmosphere to disperse pollutants, so in this case particulate matter from the smoke. With that, you spread it into a larger area in the lower atmosphere and then the concentrations just drop right away. That’s what we’re seeing right now.”

Erin Humphrey, who’s 6.5 months pregnant, is happy to be able to go outside after protecting her and her baby from the smoke these last few weeks. 

“Definitely get cabin fever, so it’s nice to be outside and in the park,” she said. 

Environment Canada said on Monday the smoke should remain out of the picture until Friday, welcome new for everyone who’s felt couped up indoors. 

“Thank goodness,” said Humphrey. “Can’t do anymore smoke. I’m done for the year.”