Calgary air quality may worsen with increased heat: meteorologist

Calgary’s air quality is expected to worsen as the city is experiencing “unusual” heat, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).

Fire advisories have also been issued for much of the province.

Jesse Wager, a meteorologist with the ECCC, told CityNews the city’s warm temperatures are not common, adding the wildfires may be contributing to the poor quality.

“We do have a strong upper flow pattern that is bringing in these warm temperatures, and because that pattern has been pretty stagnant, there isn’t a lot of airflow to help flush the atmosphere,” she said.

“So those constituents that are sort of bringing in that poor air quality are building up.”

Wager says air quality tends to deteriorate with consecutive days of heat, with Tuesday hitting close to five on the air quality scale and Wednesday predicted to hit six.

The city set a record Monday with a temperature of 25.8 C. On Wednesday, the city broke the old record of 26.7 C set in 2016 with a temperature of 27 C.

“We’ll be close to setting another record today. So, when we’re talking about setting record temperatures, it is unusual for it to be this warm this early,” she said.

She says the increase in air quality is unexpected, adding it will be similar to Tuesday or “slightly worse.”

Wager says nearby fires, like a fire in Ghost Lake, may contribute to the smoke negatively affecting people, but the wind is working in the city’s favour right now.

“The fires generally are concentrated further to the north, closer to Edmonton. And with the current wind direction, the smoke isn’t blowing towards Calgary, so that’s a positive,” Wager explained.

“If it is bothering you … we often see vulnerable people are more susceptible to feeling the effects of poor air quality. So if you’re outside a lot, just make sure that you are trying to get out of the outdoors, get back inside to where maybe there is a little bit better air quality.”

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Meanwhile, the heat is expected to change this coming weekend.

“So cooler temperatures, maybe even a few rain showers, are expected and therefore likely improvement in the air quality barring any new fires,” Wager said.

Wagar recommends vulnerable people and those with respiratory issues limit their time outdoors.