Montrealers Woke Up To A Cloud Of Smog Hovering Over The City Today & Here's Why
Some Montrealers woke up this morning and, thinking they were going to enjoy the heatwave and some sunshine, quickly rushed outside to get some fresh air. However, a thick smog settled over the city on Sunday, June 21. And, Environment Canada issued a notice that warned the people about the Montreal smog.
On the Government of Canada's website, it reads "high concentrations of fine particulate matter are expected and will result in poor air quality."
The smog, which looks like a thick fog, is believed to come from smoke from a bog fire in the Kamouraska region.
The fire broke out again yesterday, causing the evacuation of several residents of the region and requiring the support of air tankers.
Fires in Quebec have been rather common lately, including a massive forest fire recently began in the Lac-Saint-Jean region, due to the extreme heat.
Poor air quality is expected to end by mid-day, according to Environment Canada.
So, Montrealers will still get a chance to enjoy the sunshine as the day progresses.
The sectors of the metropolitan region concerned by the alert are the Island of Montreal, Châteauguay - La Prairie, Laval and Longueuil - Varennes.
The smoke was even smelled by some Montrealers.
Translation: Some mornings are not so glorious... #smog and the smell of smoke in #Montreal. The result of a wildfire in the Kamouraska region?
Environment Canada is also asking people with certain respiratory and cardiac problems to be careful.
Translation: Smog can cause breathing difficulties. Please avoid physical exertion outdoors.
"Smog mainly affects children with asthma and people with respiratory or heart disease. It is therefore recommended that they avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors until the smog warning is lifted," we are told on the Government of Quebec's website.
Several other areas of the province are also affected by smog this Sunday, June 21.
Beauce, Drummondville - Bois-Francs, Kamouraska - Rivière-du-Loup - Trois-Pistoles, Lachute - Saint-Jérôme, Lanaudière, the Laurentians, Mauricie, Montmagny - L'Islet, Québec, Témiscouata, the Richelieu Valley - Saint-Hyacinthe and Vaudreuil - Soulanges - Huntingdon are the other areas also affected by the warning.
This article was originally published in French on Narcity Québec.
