Residents in Toronto and across southern Ontario are being advised to take precautions as wildfire smoke from Western Canada continues to drift east, potentially affecting air quality in the coming days.
Fires burning in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and parts of northern Ontario are contributing to hazy skies and slightly cooler daytime temperatures.
Currently, Saskatchewan is battling 18 active wildfires, while Manitoba is dealing with 25. More than 25,000 people have been evacuated from affected areas, and with hot, dry weather forecasted, the threat may persist through the summer.
While Environment Canada has issued air quality alerts for northern Ontario, the risk remains low to moderate in southern regions for now. A brief improvement is expected with rain forecasted Wednesday night into Thursday, but smoke is likely to return by the weekend.
Meteorologists warn that shifting wind patterns could worsen conditions, particularly for vulnerable individuals. Residents are encouraged to monitor Environment Canada and Toronto Public Health for real-time updates and safety guidance.