Published on August 6, 2025 at 11:42 am
Of Canadian origin, she is currently traveling to Europe, but plans an imminent return to the beautiful province. Who is she? Smoke in western Canadian forest fires. See when the poor air quality and a veiled sky will be back for your region.
An unwanted visitor in Europe
Due to the Western Canadian Forest Fees refuse to let go and continue to rage, several special meteorological bulletins concerning the poor air quality were issued Wednesday morning for Saskatchewan, Manitoba, certain regions of Ontario and northern Quebec. But that’s not all: Canada’s smoke spreads to Europe. “These fires emit a large amount of particles that are injected into the atmosphere. Air quality is thus reduced for certain regions of Ireland and Scotland, partly due to this Canadian smoke which is propagated by winds at altitude, “explains Maxine Gervais-Cloutier, meteorologist.
This is not the first time that such a situation has been happening this year. Indeed, at the beginning of last June, Canadian smoke was also transported over 7,000 km, reaching several sectors of the European continent. This Wednesday, the winds at altitude help to spread aerosols.
The situation in Canada
Meanwhile in Canada, the situation remains alarming for several provinces. There are about 200 active lights in the north of the country. However, the fires that are the most problematic are those that send smoke to Europe and come from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northern Ontario.
Dated August 5, 743 lights are active in Canada. The country is around 4000 for the season this year. For the moment in Quebec, the season of forest fires is fortunately calm: the beautiful province has four active fires.
Still repercussions in Quebec
Quebec has been able to breathe a little better, in recent hours, with a small respite from the repercussions of the smoke of the fires of Western Canada. For what? Due to an anticyclone that protected the province. “However, this anticyclone will soon withdraw. As of Thursday, air quality should start deteriorating for the sectors in the south of the province. The arrival of a new system should also contribute to bringing aerosols and thus affecting air quality, ”says Maxine Cloutier-Gervais.
And this is how these moments of blue sky are a little rarer this summer, in Quebec, in Canada … and at times even in Europe.
With the collaboration of Maxine Cloutier-Gervais, meteorologist.