After a smoky start to the wildfire season, Manitobans may finally catch a break as shifting weather patterns and expected rainfall are poised to improve air quality in the days ahead.
Wildfire smoke has brought hazy skies to large parts of southern Manitoba, impacting air quality in recent weeks. Although previously the smoke was caused by wildfires in Northern Manitoba, Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, says the hazy conditions this week drifted in from further west.
“We have seen smoke this summer from fires in Manitoba, but today we do have more of that flow bringing in smoke from fires in northwestern Alberta, as well as parts of northeastern British Columbia,” notes Climenhaga.
Dry spring sets the stage
Manitoba experienced a dry spring, setting up ideal conditions for wildfires to spark and spread. While this season may feel early for many residents, Climenhaga says fire activity in May and June isn’t uncommon.
“May can be a potent month for the Prairies in terms of wildfire activity as well as early June,” she says. “If you look at some big fires in the past, many of them start at this time of year. For instance, the Fort McMurray wildfire in Alberta was in May."
After the snow melts in Manitoba and before plants have a chance to green up, the landscape is especially vulnerable to ignition, often producing large and fast-moving wildfires.
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Weather shift brings relief
Fortunately, change is on the horizon. A developing weather system over Alberta is forecast to bring cooler, more humid air and the potential for rainfall across the Prairies.
“We're starting to see that smoke moving towards the northwest, so we should see some relief soon,” she explains.
The arrival of unsettled weather, likely beginning over the weekend and continuing into early next week, could include showers and even bands of steady rain. This type of weather can help both suppress existing wildfires and reduce the risk of new ones.
“When it comes to fire activity, if you get breaks with cooler weather and higher relative humidity, that’s all going to help with the wildfire situation,” she adds.
While wildfire season technically runs through to the end of October, this window of cooler, wetter weather could provide some much-needed breathing room for Manitoba communities.
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