Smoky skies have returned to the west central region, as a special air quality statement has been issued for the area. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Terri Lang, the thickness of the smoke could linger into the next couple of days.   

"The plume of smoke is coming from the fires near the Hudson Bay area, and they're kind of heading straight south westwards, so it's bringing that smoke in. But our models are showing that the plume of smoke will slowly lift more to the north, so it should start improving conditions. Probably later this evening and into overnight.” 

The smoky skies have been nonexistent in the west central region the past little while, after a summer full of wildfires in British Columbia, California, and in northern Saskatchewan. The recent dry weather has sparked up the fires in the Hudson Bay area, and Lang said that attributed to the wildfire smoke returning. 

“It had settled down a bit, but then we kind of got into that really hot and dry weather. So, I think that helped perk it up a little bit and we're going to have sort of those similar conditions continuing over the next couple days. With temperatures peaking in the mid 20s again and really, really dry conditions, so that's helping it set off quite a bit of smoke.” 

Air quality advisories have been issued for central areas of the province, including areas in and around Saskatoon, Martensville, Warman, Rosthern, Delisle and Wakaw.

These advisories come after ones issued in the northeast part of the province Friday. Which included the areas around Hudson Bay, Porcupine Plain, Humboldt, Wynyard, Wadena, Lanigan, Foam Lake, Melfort, Tisdale, Nipawin and Carrot River.