Air quality improves considerably for southern Alberta; alerts lifted

Environment & Climate Change Canada has dropped a series of yellow and orange alerts relating to air quality for southern Alberta, as conditions began to improve Sunday.

In fact, air quality health index (AQHI) readings had dropped from Sunday’s very high risk (10+) to a low designation of 2 at 8 a.m. Monday for the City of Lethbridge, and the forecast is for a continued low risk through at least Tuesday.

Province-wide conditions also bettered on Monday with only low risk ratings; however, the Calgary-Airdrie region may climb slightly Tuesday into moderate criteria with a forecast of 4.

Smoke remains a big concern to the west in British Columbia with yellow alerts for air quality continued Monday morning for the East Kootenay and Elk Valley.