Kamloops air as of 12:00 p.m Sunday, Sept. 13. (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

Smoky Skies Bulletin

Air quality health risk in Kamloops expected to moderate over next 48 hours

Sep 13, 2020 | 12:09 PM

KAMLOOPS — Thick wildfire smoke from the United States which is blanketing much of British Columbia this weekend is expected to decrease to moderate levels by Tuesday, according to Environment Canada.

Meteorologist Armel Castellan says the smoke has spread from the coast into the Interior region, and central B.C. By the end of the weekend, it will have spread into Alberta as well.

“In fact almost the rest of the country, just not quite the same concentrations as we are seeing right now on the south coast and the Okanagan into the Kootenays – where we’re seeing values that are so extraordinary they are way beyond the level that brings us to the maximum level of health risk on the air quality health index.”

Castellan notes the air quality health index is at 10 or more for many locations in the province right now.

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“It’s a difficult situation because it affects literally everybody. Not just the at-risk population – the infants, children, elders, pregnant women, and people with cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. Then you also have the layer of COVID-19 on top of that,” he explains, “Also, the healthy adult population is recommended to postpone or reschedule strenuous activity just to be as healthy as possible as we come out of this multi-day thick smoke, poor air quality event.”

The smoke is expected to peak overnight, and Castellan says Kamloops could see the air improve by the end of Monday. However he says the air quality in central and eastern B.C likely won’t drop from high to a moderate health risk level until Tuesday.

For those struggling with the poor air quality even when indoors, he adds that HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters are a good way to improve the air in your home.