U.S. wildfires the reason for the smoke in Okanagan

Fires burning south of the Canadian border are causing smoky skies in the Okanagan region.

Smoke will continue to hang over the Okanagan Valley this week, as the smoke is currently stuck under an inversion, said Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist.

Smoke is drifting into the valley from wildfires in Oregon, Washington and California.

“I think we’re going to have to deal with it for a few days on and off for (the) week,” he said.

With a warmer atmosphere, the smoke is currently prevented from mixing with the atmosphere and it's trapped under the atmosphere like a lid, he said.

Lundquist believes the smoke may impact the predicted hot weather for this week. An air quality advisory was also issued earlier today, Sept. 8 for the Interior and other parts of the province.

READ MORE: Hot weather expected in the Okanagan this week

BreezoMeter, an online tool used to rate air quality, uses a scale from 1-100, with 100 being the best air quality. The tool is currently rating the Okanagan around the 30 mark, with "low" air quality.

The tool recommends when air quality is low to reduce the intensity of outdoor activities.

– This story was updated at 12 p.m. to include the air quality advisory.

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