Meteorologist expects many air quality statements to be lifted by Thursday evening

People in many parts of the province can start breathing a little easier.

Environment and Climate Change Canada lifted special air quality statements for Regina, Saskatoon and many areas along the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border Thursday morning.

Meteorologist Brian Luzny said he expects most of the special air quality statements in the southern portion of the province to be lifted by Thursday evening.

“The central portion and (areas) closest to the fires will probably (have special air quality statements) in effect until at least Friday,” he added.

Luzny said the alerts were lifted because the smoke plume has shifted away from the Regina and Saskatoon areas.

“There (are) those northerly winds set up in place there, so that’s pushed the smoke south and west of those regions,” he added. “(We’re) still seeing hazy skies with smoke elevated, but that dense smoke plume that was causing reduced visibilities and elevated AQHI (Air Quality Health Index) values is no longer there.”

As for what to be expect for the Victoria Day weekend, Luzny said he doesn’t expect people to see clear skies anytime soon.

“It’s a bit hard to say that far out,” he added. “There might be a break on Thursday evening, but hazy skies are expected to come back on Friday … Hazy (skies are) more or less what (people are) looking at this long weekend.”

However, a sudden wind shift or change in pattern could bring wildfire smoke down from the north, the meteorologist said.

“I am looking ahead at Saturday’s winds and they do have a … northwesterly component that could bring smoke back in that could be a bit more ground-level, as opposed to elevated,” Luzny explained.