Smoky skies cover Metro Vancouver with air quality advisory in effect
Fine particulate matter from the wildfires is blowing towards the coast
A heat wave is enveloping Metro Vancouver this week, but the outdoors may not be the best place for everyone.
An air quality advisory is in effect in Metro Vancouver because of smoke and "fine particulate matter" blown in from forest fires hundreds of kilometres away.
Here's what it looked like on Tuesday morning from Horsehoe Bay
Air quality advisory in effect today - here's how it's shaping up near Horsehoe Bay <a href="https://t.co/iLN7kYdQzo">pic.twitter.com/iLN7kYdQzo</a>
—@mjanakiramFrom the sky
PHOTO: Coast Mountain range this morning as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCwildfire?src=hash">#BCwildfire</a> smoke from the Interior starts to drift towards the ocean. <a href="https://t.co/AHRFjTRwR3">pic.twitter.com/AHRFjTRwR3</a>
—@BCGovFireInfoVancouver
Vancouver Fire even threw in a reference to Star Wars, comparing this morning's sunrise to that on fictional desert planet Tatooine.
When the sunrise looks like Tatooine, it’s going to be toasty. Find shade, stay hydrated, and know the signs of heat illness! <a href="https://t.co/lyAdHLfR8S">pic.twitter.com/lyAdHLfR8S</a>
—@VanFireRescueIt's a smoky morning in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YVR?src=hash">#YVR</a> <br>The view from the <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCVancouver">@CBCVancouver</a> studios this morning <a href="https://t.co/wONSefQov5">pic.twitter.com/wONSefQov5</a>
—@FarrahMeraliSmokey red sun on this morning's commute.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeenOnMyCommute?src=hash">#SeenOnMyCommute</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vancouver?src=hash">#Vancouver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sunrise?src=hash">#sunrise</a> <a href="https://t.co/tMp6StF0NZ">pic.twitter.com/tMp6StF0NZ</a>
—@wetcoastlifeThe smoke moving in.<br>.<br>.<br>.<br>.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/summer?src=hash">#summer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earlymorning?src=hash">#earlymorning</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bcwildfires?src=hash">#bcwildfires</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vancouver?src=hash">#vancouver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sunrise?src=hash">#sunrise</a> <a href="https://t.co/bbOKoF1zkV">https://t.co/bbOKoF1zkV</a> <a href="https://t.co/zugQZ5GMp8">pic.twitter.com/zugQZ5GMp8</a>
—@jringer604New Westminster
Super hazy in New West this morning! <a href="https://t.co/5wIAlXeDvL">pic.twitter.com/5wIAlXeDvL</a>
—@stephmerNorth Shore
<a href="https://twitter.com/BCFerries">@BCFerries</a> Red dawn and first ferry out of Langdale <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vancouver?src=hash">#Vancouver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCWildfire?src=hash">#BCWildfire</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sunrise?src=hash">#sunrise</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bcferries?src=hash">#bcferries</a> <a href="https://t.co/aUQjZRwZ9x">pic.twitter.com/aUQjZRwZ9x</a>
—@PaulBAdamsThe B.C. Wildfire Service says hot, dry and smoky air from the Interior is heading for the South Coast and expected to rapidly dry out coastal forests, adding to the wildfire risk.
Normally, the prevailing winds travel from the coast to the Interior, but this week the winds are expected to switch into outflow conditions, the wildfire service said in a statement.
An air quality advisory remains for parts of the B.C. southern Interior, including the North Thompson, South Thompson, Shuswap, 100 Mile, Cariboo, and Chilcotin.