Wildfire smoke has again drifted into much of Southern Manitoba, and that's prompted Environment Canada to issue Special Air Quality Statements for almost all of the province.
"With surface high pressure over the region today, and generally light northerly to northwesterly winds aloft and at the surface, that is pushing the smoke southward from both northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan," explained CMOS Accredited Weathercaster Chris Sumner. "Smoky conditions will last into Sunday, but as winds turn southerly and southwesterly during the day, we will see a decrease in how much smoke is over our area."
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Meanwhile, the City of Winkler continues to prepare for the arrival of evacuees from northern Manitoba. In an update shared with PembinaValleyOnline Saturday morning, Mayor Henry Siemens indicated none had arrived as of yet, but the City will continue to be ready for when needed.
The Meridian Exhibition Centre has been converted into a temporary shelter for up to several hundred evacuees. It will be closed to the public for the time being to ensure a safe and secure environment for incoming residents. The Canadian Red Cross is taking the lead on logistics and distribution of supplies, working in close coordination with EMO and local emergency coordinators.
In a news conference late Friday afternoon, Premier Wab Kinew updated the province on the situation across Manitoba. About 17,000 evacuees have fled the danger presented by several fires in northern Manitoba.
"(It's) very scary, very tiring, long days for people who've been on the road and in the air to find their way to safety," he said.