Ontario is seeing elevated levels of wildfire smoke in the atmosphere due to ongoing fires in the Prairies and northwestern Ontario, although surface air quality in the province remains unaffected for now.
“We’re not close enough to the fires to be experiencing poor air quality at the surface,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson. “That’s what they’re unfortunately living through in parts of the Prairies and northwestern Ontario, where air quality statements are in effect.”
Smoke may be visible in the upper atmosphere over the coming days, but is expected to stay elevated. There is a low chance that enough smoke could reach the ground to impact surface air quality in southwestern Ontario.
“If we get enough of a concentration, it could start to affect surface air quality,” Coulson said. “In that case, statements may be issued, but right now, it doesn’t seem likely.”
Meanwhile, temperatures across the province are expected to rebound after a cooler-than-average May.
“The weather fluctuations are normal,” Coulson said. “But what a lot of people noticed was how cool the second half of the month was. Overall, May ended up a little below the long-term average.”
Seasonal temperatures—typically around 23 C for this time of year—are expected to return by the end of the workweek.
“We settle back to more seasonal temperatures to finish off the workweek on Thursday and Friday,” he said. “It looks like temperatures will rise into the mid to high 20s by Sunday and into next week.”
The warming trend is expected to continue through the rest of June and into July, with temperatures likely to be somewhat warmer than normal.
