Wildfire smoke and air quality health index

The City of Lethbridge is advising residents to take care when outdoors as wildfire smoke has drifted into the city and area.

The smoke is from wildfires currently burning in northern Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. There are no nearby fires contributing to the smoke being seen in our area.

A wind shift in northern Alberta is contributing to the smoke being seen in and around the city. Winds are shifting from the southeast to the north–northwest with gusts up to 50 km. This is driving wildfire smoke south into southern Alberta.

As wind speeds pick up over the next couple of days, the smoke is expected to become worse in and around the city.

Lethbridge is currently sitting at a three on a scale from one to 10 on the Air Quality Health Index. This rating means we are still at a low risk on the scale but are expected to move to a four, moderate risk, by later today.

Alberta Health Services has several resources available with information about health information during air quality events.

Air quality events that result in poor air quality are issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada or by Alberta Health Services.

For a visual of the current wildfire and associated smoke, residents can follow the firesmoke.ca forecast map.

For Public Inquiries:
Call 311 | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.