What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
Nov 18, 2024
Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
Wildfire smoke from northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories is making its way through Saskatchewan this week.
But the good news is it’s not expected to cause too many problems according to Terri Lang, meteorologist with Environment Canada.
She said for the most part, the smoke is staying aloft – meaning it’s staying in the upper atmosphere and isn’t expected to impact air quality.
Lang said the smoke would likely not be thick enough to create a hazy overcast.
“These forest fires aren’t pouring out a lot of smoke yet, and the levels of smoke that are coming through are thin. You can see it in the sunrises and sunsets, they’re a little bit redder, a little bit oranger,” Lang said.
“Just with the amount of smoke that’s coming out, it’s not expected to mix down into the lower atmosphere all that much and create a bunch of air quality problems.”
Lang said the smoke is expected to move into Manitoba by around Friday.
So far, Saskatchewan hasn’t experienced the same levels of smoke it got last summer.
Much of the province has experienced heavy rainfall and cooler temperatures contrasted against last year’s hot and dry weather felt in May and June.
“We’re not seeing those same conditions this year,” she said.
Read More:
- End of cool, rainy weather could be on the way in Saskatchewan
- By the numbers: Saskatchewan’s 2023 wildfire season
- Sask. Public Safety Agency renewing its fleet of water bombers
“It’s still dry in portions of northern British Columbia, northern Alberta, through the Northwest Territories – so those are the places that are burning right now just because of those conditions.”
Lang said people should still monitor the Air Quality Health Index in case the smoke does mix into the lower atmosphere.
Last year, 2,703 people were evacuated from their homes during the wildfire season according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.
Saskatchewan’s wildfires for 2023 reached 494 – well above the province’s five-year average of 397.
SPSA Vice President Steve Roberts called it one of the busiest seasons he’d seen in more than 20 years on the job.
The SPSA said 43 structures were lost during the wildfire, but no homes or critical infrastructure were damaged.
The SPSA is spending about $187 million on four repurposed land-based air tankers to renew its fleet of water tankers.
–with files from 980 CJME’s Lisa Schick