Wildfire smoke continues to drift through Ottawa, creating hazy conditions

A look at downtown Ottawa on Wednesday afternoon. (Westin Camera)

Smoke from wildfires burning in northern Ontario and the Prairies continues to drift through Ottawa today, creating hazy conditions.

Environment Canada’s forecast warns of hazy skies through the day, before conditions improve on Thursday.

“Hazy skies in place as smoke from wildfires drift over the area,” the weather agency says on its website. “This may obscure visibility slightly and reduce the clarity of the sky.”

The air quality index in Ottawa will be a “5-Moderate Risk” today and “4-Moderate Risk” tonight, before improving to “3-Low Risk” on Thursday.

Environment Canada says a cold front moving through Ottawa later today should start “cleaning the air.”

“It should start clearing (Wednesday) because we are going to have a cold front moving through southern Ontario that’s going to help cleaning the air,” Barbara Lapido, meteorologist with Environment Canada, tells CTV News Ottawa.

According to www.firesmoke.ca, smoke from wildfires will continue to linger over Ottawa into Thursday afternoon.

Hottest day of 2025

It’s the hottest day of 2025 in Ottawa, so far.

The temperature warmed up to 28.6 C at 1 p.m., the warmest temperature recorded in Ottawa this year.

The forecast calls for sunshine and hazy conditions today. High 29 C with the humidex making it feels

Ottawa will have clear skies early this evening, before it becomes partly cloudy with a 70 per cent chance of showers late this evening and overnight. There is a risk of a thunderstorm. Low 17 C.

Environment Canada says it will be cloudy with a 70 per cent chance of showers on Thursday, before skies partly clear in the afternoon. High 24 C with the humidex making it feel like 29.

Friday will be cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of showers. High 27 C.

The outlook for Saturday calls for cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of showers. High 22 C.

Sunday will see a mix of sun and cloud with a 30 per cent chance of showers. High 23 C.

The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of 23 C and a low of 12 C.