Smoke has blanketed Calgary for more than 270 hours this summer, breaking the 1969 record of 268 hours, according to weather historian Rolf Campbell.
“At five o’clock (Thursday) we broke the all-time record for smokiest year ever observed at the Calgary airport,” Campbell told CTV Calgary.
The new record is a bleak reminder of the wildfires that have been burning in Alberta and B.C.
This summer alone, 13 provincial parks and campgrounds were closed in Alberta due to wildfires.
“There are currently 18 wildfires within the province,” said Agriculture and Forestry Wildfire Information Officer Matthew Anderson. “Only one is out of control at 8,000 hectares in the Slave Lake Forest area,” he added.
Much of the smoke that’s choked Calgary has come from the Verdant Creek Wildfire, which is now nearly 18,000 hectares, and is being managed until a major change in weather.
But it might be some time before there’s a break in the hot and dry weather.
According to an experimental forecast from Environment Canada, September will be ripe for wildfires. Temperatures are likely to stay above normal for the time of year and precipitation is forecast as below normal.
Minister of Environment and Parks Shannon Phillips said: “There has been a provincial operations centre activated, which is also actively monitor wildfires, including the one burning in Waterton National Park. “
As of Friday morning, Calgary surpassed 280 smoky hours, according to Campbell’s weather tracking data.
With files from CTV Calgary’s Brad MacLeod
