By Glenn Hicks

Smoke and heat: P.A. set for uncomfortable week

Aug 7, 2018 | 6:32 PM

The smoky skies over Prince Albert and area are expected to linger into Wednesday evening as wind from the northwest is pushing wildfire smoke from Alberta into the region.

The smoke rolled in Tuesday and quickly reduced visibility. The poor air coupled with ever-increasing temperatures for the rest of this week is far from ideal for people with breathing difficulty as well the elderly and the very young, but the best guess from forecasters is the smoke is unlikely to stick around.

“We don’t have the smoke issued as a warning or advisory,” Environment Canada climatologist David Phillips told paNOW Tuesday. “If things change we’ll update the public,” Phillips added but did not think it would be a factor for when the mercury rises further come Thursday.

According to a special statement from Environment Canada, the smoky air may mean individuals could experience symptoms such as 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.

Phillips said the very hot weather starting later this week would be another health factor. The temperature is expected to reach 33C Thursday, 34C Friday and 32C Saturday, which is up to ten degrees hotter than normal for this time of year.

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“You know one day [of hot weather] is fine, the body can handle that, but when you go three or four days it becomes taxing on the body,” he said. “A consistent period of rather elevated temperatures this high above the norm is unusual for the summertime.”

The one piece of good news is that nighttime temperatures are to remain relatively low.

“They will be around 14C with the clearer skies at night so lots of that heat will ease, although the overnight lows are still a few degrees higher than normal,” he said.

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow