Residents of Waterloo Region opened their doors Monday morning to air quality warnings and hazy skies as smoke from wildfires burning in the north drifted south. Environment Canada said the Air Quality Health Index level reached its highest level at 7 — which falls at the lower end of the high risk category.
Smoke continued to rise overnight Sunday and a special air quality statement was issued for much of southern Ontario. Officials warned that possible symptoms could include throat irritation, headaches and mild coughing, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions.
The good news is that air quality is expected to gradually improve throughout the day, bringing some relief. However, the skies are not completely clear yet. Meanwhile, the heat remains a concern — another heat warning was issued Tuesday, with humidex values expected to rise to between 35 and 40 by Thursday.
Environment Canada is advising citizens to stay indoors if possible, drink plenty of water and limit outdoor activities in the hot weather until conditions return to normal.
