Breathe easy, haze not caused by Alberta wildfires: NEWS 1130 meteorologists

METRO VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – You may have noticed the sky has looked a little hazy at times this week, but NEWS 1130 Meteorologist Russ Lacate says there’s no need to be concerned about what you’re breathing in.

Despite the view of the North Shore mountains looking a bit differently lately, Lacate says it has mainly been due to low-lying marine cloud and mist.

“Any wildfire smoke which may be present in our atmosphere is at a much higher elevation, in fact, the murkiness of the previous few mornings more so due to the relative humidity being above 90 per cent,” he adds.

Check out these 5 pm humidex readings around the Lower Mainland. Great late May day. pic.twitter.com/rwfVVAUQoi

— Michael Kuss (@Kusswx) May 31, 2019

RELATED: Wildfires forcing 10,000 people from their homes in Alberta

He says the colourful sunsets and sunrises we’ve been seeing are due in part to some of the haze aloft but says the smoke is affecting only higher up.

“Keep in mind it is at a much higher elevation. It’s got no impact on our Lower Mainland air quality which remains good,” Lacate says. “It’s really the combination of the marine air in the lower 500 meters or so of the atmosphere and it’s being overrun by this dissipating distant wildfire smoke, which is 5,000 to 10,000 meters above sea level.”

For those wondering if the 'colourful' sunrise/sunsets of late are a precursor to deteriorating #AirQuality: You can breathe easy around Metro #Vancouver for now, as dense/hazardous #wildfire smoke remains confined to the northeast corner of BC and all across Alberta. pic.twitter.com/JB3XFFWwGP

— Russ Lacate (@RLacate) May 31, 2019

So when it comes to your safety, our second Meteorologist Michael Kuss says you don’t have to worry as there are very small traces of wildfire smoke in the air.

“Breathe easy, air quality has remained good all week long and it looks like that’s going to be the case on Thursday and into the weekend as well,” he adds. Meantime, all air quality advisories in the interior — related to the wildfire smoke in Alberta — have now been dropped.