It was under a milky sky, veiled by a layer of unusual orange gray, that the city of Montreal has smothered on Sunday, while air quality reached a worrying level of 153 according to the IQAir platform – a threshold considered “bad for health”.
While the persistent mist floated above southern Quebec, Environment Canada multiplied calls for caution.
Environnement Canada had launched a SMOG special bulletin in the morning, warning that smoke from forest fires in meadows caused poor air quality and reduced visibility in a large portion in the south of the province.
« [Dimanche] Morning, air quality was still acceptable, but it gradually deteriorated from midday, explains Julien Chartrand, meteorologist at Environment Canada. In the evening, we observe[ait] Concentrations around 60 micrograms per cubic meter of fine particles, which corresponds to poor air quality. »»
Photo Josie Desmarais, the press
Environnement Canada had launched a SMOG special bulletin in the morning, warning that smoke from forest fires in meadows caused poor air quality and reduced visibility in a large portion in the south of the province.
An improvement is expected from this Monday morning, he specifies. “A stormy front will cross southern Quebec during the night, which will cause a change of air mass. We should find a good air quality by the end of the day on Monday. »»
The phenomenon affects a large part of the territory. “We have observed high concentrations of smog in almost all regions of the South, from Abitibi to the Gaspésie,” notes Mr. Chartrand.
According to Iqar, the city of Montreal was one of the five worst cities in the world with regard to air quality during the day on Sunday.
“I have fears for our children”
At the Cité park, in Longueuil, the heat struck the aisles, but it is especially the suspended orange mist that impressed. Several regulars in the park had changed their routine to avoid breathing too much.
“I asked my boyfriend not to cycle today,” said Hélène Deschamps, the sixties. I told him that we were going to walk at the Park de la Cité instead. »»
It is worried about the long -term effects of the phenomenon. “I have fears about everything related to the environment,” she said. Of course I have fears for our children. »»
On a shaded bench, Karine Gendron, resident of Saint-Hubert, let a reflection push. “Something should be done in relation to the environment. I just think people are not ready to reduce their comfort to improve the situation. »»
Meanwhile, at the Terminus Longueuil, it was festival day. A wave of young people took the direction of Osheaga, at Parc Jean-Drapeau, to see, among other things, the artist Olivia Rodrigo.
Maëva did not seem too concerned about the alert. “I didn’t even know that there was a SMOG warning today … But at the same time, it’s Osheaga, I’m not going to miss it. »»
Jules Nguyen, 19, is asthmatic. He said he felt the difference in the air, but preferred not to think about it on Sunday. “I’m asthmatic, so smog, I feel it,” he said. On the other hand, that’s not what will prevent me from going to see Olivia [Rodrigo]. »
Noémie Bouchard wore a surgical mask, but also a sweater with the image of the Californian artist. “We are a super-conscious generation of the climate crisis, but I think we are experiencing a kind of fatigue,” she admits. We are disgusted to wear everything on our shoulders. »»
An increasingly frequent phenomenon
Julien Chartrand recalls that the levels observed on Sunday are concern, but not comparable to those recorded in the previous weeks.
We are still far from what we saw last week. Concentrations have been recorded around 100 to 120 micrograms, which is significantly higher than what we currently see.
Julien Chartrand, meteorologist at Environment Canada
Even if the effects are less spectacular, the health authorities recommend caution, especially for vulnerable groups. This includes the elderly, children, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases.
