(Tiffany Goodwein/ CHAT NEWS)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Smoke filled sky to stay on and off says Environment Canada

Sep 14, 2020 | 6:12 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- If you have looked outside lately, smoke is blanketing Medicine Hat. The smoke is brought on by nearly 100 wildfires burning across the Western United States.

“Over the weekend we had a change in the upper pattern of the atmosphere. We have winds coming now from the Southwest. So those winds are bringing in the smoke from Oregon, Washington, California and those major wildfires going on over there to parts of Southern B.C, as well as Alberta bringing some hazy conditions,” said Environment Canada Meteorologist Sara Hoffman.

The smoke in the sky is aloft, meaning it is not mixing to the surface and affecting air quality to a great degree. The air quality index for Medicine Hat is considered low.

In terms of relief, some may be on the way, according to Environment Canada, but just when we will say goodbye to the smoky conditions remains the million-dollar question.

A cold front is expected to pass across the prairies from Northwestern Alberta to Southeastern Manitoba on Tuesday afternoon.

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“What it looks like right now is that for areas east of the foothills, we will see improvement in conditions, those hazy skies, we will see those improve behind the cold front, once the cold front is well through, that arctic air behind it sinks south and creates a northerly flow. So that means the wind will be from the north rather than the southwest. That should improve conditions through this week until the end of this week,” said Hoffman.

But the smoky conditions are set to make another possible return.

“Next weekend much like this weekend, we will get that change in the upper atmospheric winds again and we do have the potential for the smoke to come in next weekend as well,” said Hoffman.

Hoffman noted that the smoky conditions are expected appear on and off as the major wildfires in the United States keep burning and producing significant smoke.