Many parts of northern Canada are shrouded in smoke from wildfires and unusually high seasonal temperatures.
The Yukon has seen a huge increase in the number of fires with just over 846 square kilometers of land scorched this year, while heat warnings and air quality statements are in effect in the Northern Territories -West and part of Nunavut.
Yukon Fire Information Officer Mike Fancie says there have been 161 active wildfires in the territory this season, up from 41 during the same period in 2021.
Environment Canada has released a special weather statement for parts of central and northern Yukon and the Northwest Territories that indicates wildfire smoke will continue to impact communities this week.
The weather agency says Beaver Creek, Dawson and Pelly-Carmacks are among regions that will see daytime highs in the upper 20s and overnight lows in the lower teens, while a heat advisory in Old Crow warns of temperatures close to 30°C for the next four days.
In the Northwest Territories, heat warnings and special air quality statements line the Mackenzie River from Aklavik to Great Slave Lake, with temperatures nearing 30C on Friday.
As Yellowknife escaped extreme heat, wildfire smoke prompted Environment Canada to warn against strenuous outdoor activity and take precautions.
The Northwest Territories has 88 active fires, including 11 new ones since Thursday.
He issued a special smoke bulletin, saying there are more than 500 wildfires in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Alaska, so most communities will experience wildfire smoke. in the days or even weeks to come.
“It will range from light levels to very high levels depending on where you are. It is likely to come with ashes in many cases,” the bulletin reads.
Environment Canada is also warning of abnormally high temperatures and smoke from wildfires in parts of Nunavut, including Kugluktuk.
“Air quality and visibility from smoke from wildfires can fluctuate over short distances and can vary significantly from hour to hour,” it says.
A fog advisory is in effect for the Grise Fiord area of northern Nunavut where visibility could drop significantly and suddenly to zero through Sunday morning.
