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Toronto and GTA residents are waking up to a hazy morning. Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement last night as smoke from forest fires in Northern Ontario blows in. Here's how you can breathe safe today.
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CTV News
8 hours ago
- CTV News
Smoke could move into Calgary on Wednesday
As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, no air quality advisories were in effect for Calgary and the surrounding areas, but that could change on Wednesday.
Ottawa Citizen
9 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
What you need to know to understand air quality warnings in Canada
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Air Quality Health Index helps people understand the current air quality; the bigger the number, the higher the risk to your health Olivia Collins of London enjoys a run this week through Greenway Park in London under smoky skies due to the far-away wildfires. Photo by Mike Hensen / Postmedia Network Wildfires are becoming more common in Canada and that means more smoke and air quality warnings. Here's what you need to know about air quality to better understand how it could impact your health and outdoor activities. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors In Canada, the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a scale developed to help people understand what the current air quality means for your health. It is an initiative among Environment Canada, Health Canada and the provincial governments. 'When we look at the AQHI, it's really an indication of the impact of the air quality on our health,' said Dr. Samantha Green, a family physician at Unity Health Toronto. The Ottawa Citizen's best journalism, delivered directly to your inbox by 7 p.m. on weekdays. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again The index takes into consideration three pollutants to determine the air quality. First, ground-level ozone, which is formed by photo-chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Second, particulate matter, which can be emitted by vehicles, industries and forest fires, forming a mix of particles that we can inhale. Finally, nitrogen dioxide comes from vehicle emissions and power plants that rely on fossil fuels, and this can normally be found near high-traffic roads. Those three pollutant levels contribute to how good or bad the air quality is in a certain area. 'The AQHI is measured in different air monitoring stations, and can provide a very accurate measurement in real time of the air quality in a particular location and it can guide us in making decisions about spending time outdoors and activity levels,' said Green. The bigger the number, the higher risk it has to your health. When the AQHI is low (1-3) or moderate (4-6), outdoor activities can continue as normal, and should only be modified if the person feels symptoms like coughing, for example. When the levels get a bit higher, between 7 and 10, it is advised to reconsider strenuous outdoor activities if you're already experiencing symptoms. Whenever the levels get higher than 10, it is recommended that people reduce or reconsider strenuous outdoor activities, especially if they have symptoms. People at higher risk and children should reconsider outdoor activities when the level is seven and above and avoid the outdoors when the level is above 10, according to Air Quality Ontario. People at a higher risk of the impacts of air quality include, but are not limited to: seniors, pregnant people, children, and people with existing illnesses or health conditions, like cancer, diabetes, lung or heart conditions, and other chronic conditions. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The immediate health impacts of poor air quality can include difficulty breathing, eye and throat irritation, cough, wheezing and chest tightness, and it can worsen any pre-existing symptoms of respiratory conditions, such as asthma. When it comes to long-term impacts, there's still research to be done on the impact of exposure to wildfire smoke. However, preliminary results show 'an impact on lung function, a slight increased risk of lung cancer, brain tumours, potential increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and a potential effect on childhood development and developmental disorders of childhood,' said Green. 'Wildfire smoke likely has negative health impacts on all body systems and we should avoid repeated and long term exposure,' said Green. On July 14, until 11 a.m., Toronto had an AQHI of 10, meaning it was better to stay indoors, while in Halifax, the AQHI was 2, an ideal air quality for outdoor activities. The poor air quality in many parts of the country, like Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, was caused mainly by the forest fires over Northern Ontario and the Prairies. 'An N95 mask will filter out a large portion of the particulate matter. It's not going to filter out those other air pollutants, like nitrogen dioxide and ozone and it's not a long term solution,' Green said. However, a surgical mask won't help, only an N95 worn correctly. 'If someone must be outside and the AQHI is high, I would say, sure, yes, it will protect you if you wear an N95 mask,' said Green. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here.
CTV News
13 hours ago
- CTV News
Windsor residents swelter through searing heat, find relief where they can
The Canada flag seen along Windsor's riverfront in Windsor, Ont. on July 15, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) A smoky haze drifting from wildfires in Western Canada is offering minor relief from the relentless heat in Windsor — but residents say there's no mistaking the extreme summer temperatures. 'It's pretty hot and hazy,' said Windsor resident Keith Rowland. 'It's incredible. I'm getting used to it now. And it's unfortunate because it kind of locks people indoors.' Environment and Climate Change Canada continues to monitor the prolonged heat wave affecting much of southern Ontario. Meteorologist Crawford Luke said while haze from wildfire smoke can bring a temporary dip in temperatures, the bigger picture shows Windsor's summer is shaping up to be hotter than usual. 'We have observed summers getting warmer, decade by decade, in this part of the country,' Luke said. 'It is part of a long-term trend. But I would also emphasize that having 30-degree days is a very normal part of summer in Windsor, which I'm sure Windsorites are very familiar with.' Luke said the city typically sees about 24 days a year where the temperature hits 30 C or higher — and this summer is on pace to exceed that. 'That would kind of put us ahead of schedule, as it were, with two weeks of July left and still August and September to come,' he said. Along Windsor's riverfront, some residents are doing their best to stay active despite the heat. 'It's definitely hot,' said Fabrice Kalisa, while out for a morning run along the Detroit River. 'I try and go for runs either early, early or go later on. Only 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. But overall, just try having a drink of water and taking breaks while you can.' Others, like Mike Cardinal, are taking the scorching weather in stride. 'It's a beautiful, warm summer — summer where it's supposed to be,' Cardinal said. 'You don't like the weather? Just think of February. This is much nicer.' Cardinal said the current heat means he won't be chasing sunshine anywhere else. 'I'm fine with that,' he said. 'There's no need to travel to Aruba for that. It's coming with us.' His advice? 'Chill off, stay in the shade. Go for a swim.' Environment Canada expects a slight cooldown into the weekend, but Luke warned that more heat events are likely in the weeks ahead. 'We're continuing to predict warmer-than-normal temperatures for the rest of the summer and into the fall overall,' he said. 'So, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a few more of these events.' He noted that when smoke is thick enough, it can reduce temperatures slightly in affected areas — but that's hardly a reliable or welcome solution. 'There is truth to that idea,' Luke said. 'Hopefully we're not dealing with that too much the rest of the summer, because smoke isn't fun.'
