A light haze of smoke was visible over the Lower Mainland from Nanaimo Thursday evening, a sign of things to come. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

smoky skies

Wildfire smoke from B.C. interior expected through Nanaimo & Oceanside

Aug 18, 2023 | 2:09 PM

NANAIMO — Smoke from potentially devastating wildfires burning through B.C.’s interior is expected to make its arrival over Vancouver Island over the weekend.

According to FireSmoke.ca, an increased level of particulates will begin being seen above eastern Vancouver Island starting around noon on Saturday, Aug. 19

Air quality meteorologist Gavin King said forecasts are still a little uncertain on just how the smoke will affect people in the region.

“It’s not clear how significant that’s going to be at the moment…but there is some potential there for ground-level concentrations that could be significant for people.”

The smoke forecast for Saturday, Aug. 19 at around 12 p.m. with the first wave of light, high level smoke due. (FireSmoke.ca)

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He said the situation is also contingent on fires across Vancouver Island, including a cluster in Strathcona Provincial Park and a new start Friday morning on Quadra Island.

A majority of the smoke due in the region will stem from fires burning midway between Quesnel and the B.C. central coast, near Bella Coola.

The Young Creek fire is one of over a dozen “wildfires of note” on the B.C. Wildfire Service website and is listed at 3,360 hectares as of Friday noon.

The overall pattern is expected to see smoke pushed southeast, meaning debris from the growing McDougall Creek wildfire is not expected to be seen here.

Early indications expect a moderate concentration.

“We may get lucky and it may stay high up in the air so you might see it and have beautiful sunsets but it may not come down to the ground,” King said.

An advisory is set to be posted through a variety of agencies Saturday morning.

By Sunday, Aug. 19, more concentrated smoke is forecast to move into the region, primarily from fires due north. (FireSmoke.ca)

— with files from Jon de Roo, 97.3 The Eagle

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