Air Quality Statement likely continues in Calgary for much of the week

The sun'll be up there, somewhere Steady dose of clouds and the possibility of showers... maybe some more smoke too as the week wears on.

AFTERNOON UPDATE: The citizen sensors show a few areas in a low threat range, and a few other areas (mainly in the west and northwest) are pushing into the moderate air quality health range. With that smoky layer, our temperature is indeed falling below expected parameters, and that will likely remain the case throughout the day.

The smoke also acts as a temperature "blanket" in the evening hours, making for theoretically clear conditions that are insulated from a proper September cool-down. I'm calling for 11 C overnight tonight, but it won't shock me to see that number stay much, much higher.

MORNING EDITION: The high-pressure ridge from the weekend has moved on and, in its place, southern Alberta is caught beneath a westerly approach of wind. Given the wildfire situation in B.C., the translation will be exceptionally poor air quality across parts of the province today.

As of this morning (6 a.m.), parts of the city are registering air quality ratings of between a 4 and a 5, with expectations that air quality locally hits the same markers found at citizen sensors west of Calgary; Kananaskis has reported in PM (particulate matter) readings of 60 to 70 PPM (parts per million) – anything above 12 PPM can affect the most vulnerable in a population.

Today and tomorrow both show indications of smoky afternoons, with general reductions overnight – and that's more a by-product of the reduced evening wind than a positive sign for the forecast. Wildfire smoke is more likely to be worse along the foothills and through southern Alberta, thanks to a significant wildfire presence south of the border.

This layer of smoke inhibits surface heating, and few forecast models accurately reflect that, so what you'll see below may be a touch cooler than what would otherwise be expected.

There are remote chances for showers Tuesday afternoon and again through periods Thursday, but it's not going to be near enough to drown out the smoke. It's likely that, with our upper wind in its present alignment, we continue dealing with smoke in some capacity for the next several days.

YOUR FIVE-DAY CALGARY FORECAST:

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Our pic of the day comes from Katherine, who snapped yesterday's sunrise at Edworthy Park.

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