Special air quality statement issued for western Manitoba

At 4:06 a.m. Wednesday morning, Environment Canada ended the special air quality statement that was issued for most of western Manitoba.

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Environment Canada is warning citizens in the WestMan region of poor air quality conditions due to smoke from forest fires.

At 1:04 p.m., Environment Canada sent out the poor air-quality statement and advises the following areas to be conscious of the effects that it will have on visibility and health :

R.M. of Cornwallis west of Shilo incl. Chater, Man.
Mun. of Oakland-Wawanesa incl. Carroll, Man.
Mun. of North Cypress-Langford incl. Neepawa and Carberry, Man.
Mun. of Glenboro-South Cypress incl. Treesbank, Man.
Mun. of North Norfolk incl. MacGregor Sidney and Austin, Man.
Mun. of Norfolk Treherne, Man.
R.M. of Victoria incl. Holland and Cypress River, Man.
R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Rorketon and Toutes Aides, Man.
R.M. of Alonsa incl. Ebb and Flow Res. and Sandy Bay Res., Man.
Mun. of Glenella-Lansdowne incl. Arden and Tenby, Man.
Mun. of WestLake-Gladstone incl. Plumas and Langruth, Man.

Smoke from forest fires is gradually accumulating in a stagnant air mass over western Manitoba. Elevated PM 2.5 levels will produce AQHI values of 8 or higher at times over the next 24 to 36 hours.

Environment Canada predicts that air conditions will improve once a cold front pushes the air mass out on Wednesday.

The public is also being warned that visibility may be hindered due to poor air quality.

"The smoke may have limited impact on visibilities and will move gradually with subtle wind shifts across the region. This special air quality statement may need to be expanded into the Red River Valley if favourable conditions develop later this evening," reads the statement.

Effects of poor air quality include increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath. Children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are especially at risk.

Environment Canada is encouraging the public who are in the affected areas to:

Limit outdoor activity and/or strenuous physical activity; if breathing becomes difficult or uncomfortable, stop or reduce the activity
Reduce exposure to smoke by staying indoors or moving to areas with cleaner air, as conditions can vary dramatically by area
Turn off furnaces and air-conditioning units that may draw smoke indoors
Keep indoor air cleaner by avoiding smoking or burning other materials

For more details on the special air quality statement, visit Environment Canada's website.