UPDATE: Expect smoky skies in the Okanagan, Shuswap, Thompson regions

Wildfire smoke will be impacting air quality in the Thompson, Shuswap, Nicola and Okanagan regions for the next 24 to 48 hours.

Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement today, July 14, that includes the cities of Kamloops, Merritt, Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton.

“High levels of smoke continue in northeastern B.C. and around Williston Lake,” the weather office says in the statement. “For other regions, new fire activity over the past 24 hours will contribute to local smoke conditions.”

Haze and smoky conditions are expected to be highly variable, especially near the new wildfires, and local precipitation may only temporarily improve smoke conditions.

Environment Canada warns that wildfire smoke can be harmful at low concentrations, and recommends taking action to reduce exposure to it.

For more information on current air quality go here.

For the latest status and details on alerts check Environment Canada's weather information page here.

— This story was updated to say the smoky skies bulletin had been expanded.

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