BC southern Interior reporting much improved air quality despite poor visibility

While the dense smoky haze in BC’s southern Interior was still considered unhealthy on Thursday, the air quality has improved greatly since earlier in the week.

According to IQ’s Air’s World Major City Air Quality list, the worst of the smoke is now settling in the Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island.

On Thursday, Vancouver was home to the worst air quality in the province with an AQI rated at 176.

However, that's a stark contrast to Castlegar's worst in BC rating of 302 on Tuesday.

While Vancouver has had the worst air quality of all major cities in the world at times this week, it's been the southern Interior dealing with the most hazardous conditions in the province.

Castlegar has been hit the hardest throughout the week, where on Monday the smoke pollution was considered to be dangerous.

IQ uses a scale ranging from 0 to 500, where 0 is considered good air quality, 51 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy, and 301 to 500 is hazardous to health.

Looking at other major cities, Kelowna currently has an AQI of 144, Kamloops is sitting at 138, with Vernon at 135 and Penticton holding a rating of 152.

All of these ratings are considered to be unhealthy got sensitive groups.

An Environment Canada air quality statement remains in effect across the southern half of BC.

But the agency said the air has “improved considerably” over recent days.

“Winds from the south are expected to continue to transport smoke north over the next 24-48 hours until the upper low off the south coast moves onshore over the weekend,” Environment Canada explained last night.