The smell of campfire in the air might seem familiar by now, but this summer’s haze isn't just a nuisance: it’s historic.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, July 2025 was the smokiest July on record for many Prairie cities, and we’re now on track for the smokiest year.
“Regina, Winnipeg, Thompson, Kenora, they all recorded their smokiest month on record for July,” explains Environment Canada meteorologist Crawford Luke. “As far as the year so far, these places are on pace to have their worst year ever for the number of smoke hours observed.”
While Portage-specific numbers are incomplete due to a lack of overnight observations, he says it’s fair to assume the local air quality has followed the same troubling trend, given its proximity to Winnipeg.
Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, echoes the concern and shares some staggering numbers.
“The records in Winnipeg go back to 1953, and so far this year they’ve had 306 smoke hours,” Climenhaga notes. “That already beats the previous record of 304 hours set in 1961, and that record was for the entire smoke season, from April to October. We’ve still got months to go.”
The data paints a grim picture for air quality in the region. Smoke hours are recorded when visibility is reduced below six miles due to wildfire smoke, which is often pushed down from northern fires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
The hazy conditions this week were driven by those same northern fires. But there is relief in sight.
“We’re seeing poor air quality today, but it should be fairly short-lived. Southern winds are expected to strengthen this weekend, which should help push the smoke back north," she adds.
In the meantime, officials are reminding residents, especially those with asthma or other respiratory conditions, to limit time outdoors, use filtered air when possible, and keep windows shut during high-smoke periods.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t the kind of record we want to break, but the data backs up what people are feeling," Luke adds. "It’s been a tough year for smoke."
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