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Smoky skies return, but little impact on air quality so far

Smoke from American wildfires has returned to local skies, but so far much of the smoke is at high altitudes and not having a big effect near the ground.
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Haze covers the Olympic Peninsula above Albert Head on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST

Smoke from American wildfires has returned to local skies, but so far much of the smoke is at high altitudes and not having a big effect near the ground.

“The monitors at the surface right now aren’t picking up on very much, which is good news,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Carmen Hartt.

However, there is a concern that the smoke, primarily from fires in northern California, might move down over the next few days, she said.

The air-quality health index — which has reached the “very high” range of 10+ in recent weeks due to smoke — was measured in the low range of one on Wednesday morning.

The forecast for today’s air-quality health index is four, or moderate. — Times Colonist