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(UPDATE: July 21, 2018 @ 12 p.m.) - Air quality in the Okanagan has improved substantially since Thursday.
For two days, the air quality was considered unhealthy.
As of 9 a.m. this morning, the air quality is sitting at 15 on the index which is considered good.
A smoky skies bulletin does remain in effect for the Central Okanagan, it is recommended that the elderly, children and those dealing with asthma avoid spending long periods of time outside.
(Update 2 p.m.) - The air quality in city centres throughout the Okanagan is showing signs of improvement.
Data collected for 9 a.m. on Thursday had Kelowna's air quality ranked* as unhealthy, but that has since been reduced to moderate.
A smoky skies bulletin does remain in effect for the Central Okanagan, it is recommended that the elderly, children and those dealing with asthma avoid spending long periods of time outside.
(Original Story) - It doesn't take an expert to look out the window today and realize the Central Okanagan's air quality is not at its typical standard.
Okanagan residents can attribute that to the seven wildfires of note currently burning near Kelowna, emitting a thick haze of smoke that continues to linger in the valley.
According to the World Air Quality Index Project, which displays real-time air quality data from 70+ countries around the globe, Kelowna's air quality today is similar to that of famously polluted cities like Beijing and New Delhi.
The site’s current Air Quality Index, which ranges from 0 to 300+, has Kelowna's air as “Unhealthy” right now.
Kelowna's air is also among the worst in North America, ranking close to Mexico City and Los Angeles.
According to Dr. Chris Carlsten, director of the Air Pollution Exposure Laboratory at the University of British Columbia, the air quality is terrible, but not to be worried about.
"The levels that Kelowna is experiencing right now are legitimately bad, right up there with Hong Kong, Beijing, and Los Angeles, but the key thing is that it's short term," explained Dr. Carlsten.
"Although this situation is lasting much longer than usual, it's still very short term in comparison to places in Asia because they have had air quality issues for well over a decade that are not going away."
Environment Canada has issued a smoky skies bulletin for the Central Okanagan, it is recommended that the elderly, children and those dealing with asthma avoid spending long periods of time outside.
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