The air is getting tough to breathe in the Okanagan and Kamloops today as wildfire smoke is blown into the region.

The Environment Ministry and Environment Canada have issued yellow and orange air quality warnings for a big chunk of the Souther Interior, July 31.

The smoky conditions are happening now and are likely to be a problem over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Wildfire smoke prompts air quality warnings for Okanagan, Kamloops | iNFOnews.ca

The warnings cover the South Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap, Okanagan and Similkameen. Those regions include the cities of Kamloops, Merritt, Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton.

The smoke is more intense in the South Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap and North Okanagan which are under orange warnings.

In those regions exposure to high smoke levels can pose a threat to health regardless of age or health status. The ministry advises people to avoid strenuous outdoor activities until the warning has ended.

It advises people to stay indoors in a space with cleaner air pointing out some people will be more negatively impacted by smoke including those with lung cancer or heart conditions, pregnant women, infants and young children, people over the age of 65, and anyone whose health is impacted by a chronic condition or illness.

For more information on the air quality warnings go here.

For more information on how to reduce your health risk, along with the current and forecast air pollution values, go here.