Western wildfire smoke drifts into southern Quebec

Filtered sunshine in Montreal due to western Canadian wildfire smoke has resulted in air quality advisories for southern Quebec. (Valley Weather)

A special air quality statement has been issued by Environment Canada regarding the western Canadian wildfire smoke that has drifted into eastern Ontario and southern Quebec on Friday morning. The smoke was present at higher altitudes earlier in the week, but has worked its way down to the surface currently, creating moderately poor air quality. 

Visibility is under 5km in Montreal at 8am, with widespread smoke and haze. There is definitely a smell of fire in the air Friday morning. The smoke and haze should remain through most of the day on light north and northeast winds, as the Montreal region lies to the north of a warm front over southern New England. The day will be hazy and warm, with a high of 25C (77F).

Environment Canada is advising residents to limit or reschedule outdoor activities until the air quality improves. 

Overnight, humidity levels will be on the rise as the warm front nears our region. Overnight lows will be very mild in the upper teens. On Saturday, we can expect another warm, and humid day, with haze and perhaps an isolated afternoon shower or thunderstorm, with a high of 27C (80F).

High pressure will nudge into the region on Sunday, with clearing skies and a warm high of 24C (76F). It should be one of the best weekend weather days we have had so far this year.

Over 60 Quebec firefighters and support staff left earlier this week to help the province of Manitoba battle widespread wildfires. The smoke form those fires arrived in southern Quebec Friday morning. (SOPFEU Photo)

The fires in Manitoba have forced the evacuations of thousands of residents form the central and northern part of that province, including the community of Flin Flon. There have been 111 fires in Manitoba so far in 2025, above the long-term average of 89. Thousands of hectares have burned, along with many structures. sadly there have been to fatalities.

Help as arrived from other Canadian provinces and the US, including 60 firefighters and personal from Quebec. A state of emergency is also in effect in Saskatchewan. The spring has been dry and warm in many locations, and while some rain and cooler temperatures are possible in the short-term, forecasters are expecting a hot dry summer for a large part of western Canada.