VANCOUVER — Environment Canada's air quality advisory and special weather statement have been extended for much of British Columbia's south coast.
Winds from the wildfire-ridden Interior brought a smoky haze over the Lower Mainland Tuesday causing high concentrations of fine particulate matter that are expected to last for several days.
The province's air quality index shows a high health risk for central and south Okanagan, Metro Vancouver, eastern Fraser Valley, Squamish, Whistler and Williams Lake early Wednesday.
Those ratings are expected to continue into Thursday as the smoke builds up and some areas currently rated at a low health risk may worsen to moderate.
While temperatures in Vancouver are forecast to hover around the mid to high 20s, more inland communities are expected to hit the mid 30s as a heat wave continues for the southern parts of the province.
People with health conditions, along with infants and the elderly are encouraged to stay in air conditioned environments and if others find their breathing becomes laboured while outdoors they're advised to slow down their activity.
