• For the past four days, Montreal has been under a smog warning as "fine particulate matter remains high," in the city and surrounding areas.
• Laval, Longueuil, Châteauguay, and other neighbouring municipalities are also under the warning as air quality remains poor.
• The smog warning was first issued on Friday, January 31, 2020.
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While it is tempting to leave your car idling in your driveway for 15 minutes every morning to let it warm up, the impact on the environment is real. That's why Environment Canada is asking people in Montreal to think twice about letting "car engines idle unnecessarily," considering a smog warning has been in effect over Montreal for the last four days straight. The federal agency does expect the air quality to get better as the day goes on, but still, they are asking the public to consider the impact of using wood-burning stoves and driving or, even worse, letting engines run.

In Quebec, Environment Canada explains, "wood heating is the main source of fine particles that contribute to smog during winter. This activity generates the largest number of these particulates, more than industrial activities and transportation."

This is why Environment Canada has asked that Montreal residents follow the city bylaw and stop using wood-burning stoves or fireplaces until the smog warning ass been lifted.

Perhaps the incoming wind and snow Montreal is expecting to see today will help with the decrease of "fine particulate matter." 

The smog warning was put into effect again today, as it has been for the past four days, starting on Friday, January 31, 2020.

The warning includes areas surrounding the city, including Châteauguay and La Prairie area, Laval, Longueuil, the Varennes area, as well as the whole Island of Montreal.

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Montreal can hopefully expect to see the smog dissipate today, as 20 km/h winds will ramp up to 40 km/h throughout the morning.

[rebelmouse-image 26887017 photo_credit="Environment Canada" expand=1 original_size="518x485"] Environment Canada

We've got some nice days ahead of us in Montreal: not too cold with some snow to look forward to both today and Thursday.

Windchill temperatures are only reaching -8 this morning and -11 this evening, which seems to imply that the groundhogs were right and we may see an early spring after all.

Environment Canada explains that "smog especially affects asthmatic children and people with respiratory ailments or heart disease. It is therefore recommended that these individuals avoid intense physical activity outdoors until the smog warning is lifted."

"We can all help improve air quality by doing simple things," the warning continues, "such as limiting the use of fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, opting to use public transit, reducing our driving speed and not letting our car engines idle unnecessarily."