Smoke returns to Calgary skies as wildfire haze drifts south

It's been a quiet year for wildfires in Alberta, but experts are keeping a close eye on what smoke from other provinces could mean for Calgary's air quality.

As wildfire smoke blows into Calgary from northern Canada, Calgarians weren’t letting the hazy skies prevent them from getting outdoors.

“I try to seize every opportunity to go out,” said golfer Colin Larade. “Especially when it’s a little clearer than most times of the day.”

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) say much of the smoke covering Alberta is coming from wildfires in the Northwest Territories. While central and northern parts of the province have seen much poorer air quality, Calgary has so far avoided the worst conditions because winds have pushed the thickest smoke farther south.

“We’ve been lucky so far this year,” golfer Bill Tchir said. “A lot better than eastern Canada.”

Members of the Urban Walkers Winter Club also kept to their regular routine Tuesday.

“We always kind of watch things like…the weather, the smoke,” said Kathy Hilland. “It wasn’t bad. It seemed to clear as we got here.

Forecasters are also watching wildfires in interior British Columbia and Washington state. Shifting weather patterns later this week could bring additional smoke into southern Alberta.

ECCC recommends anyone with respiratory conditions to check the Air Quality Health Index before heading outdoors.