there has been no measurable rain recorded in metro vancouver since june 15, and none is forecast into the middle of next week.
“we are drier than normal for both vancouver and abbotsford,” said lisa erven, a meteorologist with environment canada . “each received only 50 to 60 per cent of normal june precipitation.”
while the interior has several air-quality warnings in effect, there are no current alerts for vancouver. but be warned, smoky summers are the new normal, according to michael brauer , a professor in ubc’s school of population and public health.
the b.c. centre for disease control has fact sheets on its website with information on wildfire smoke and its health impact, including how to prepare for wildfire season.
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some simple guidelines to limit smoky air making it into your lungs include buying a portable air cleaner that uses hepa filtration, heading to a public space such as a library or shopping mall, and keep your windows up and ac on while driving.
also, the b.c. centre for disease control has diy instructions for a homemade box-fan air filter.
“we have really good air quality throughout most of british columbia,” said sarah henderson , senior environmental health scientist at the centre and a public-health professor at ubc. “when it gets smoky, it’s challenging for us because we’re not used to that sort of thing.
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