LAKELAND - A thick blanket of smoke has descended on much of the Lakeland, an beyond, over the May long weekend.
With the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) rating the outdoor air quality at 10+ Friday night and again throughout the day on Saturday, the same conditions are expected to continue into Sunday.
Stations located across the region, in Lac La Biche, St. Lina, and Cold Lake, all rate the air quality at 10+, which means people are encouraged to "avoid strenuous activities outdoors," according to the Alberta AQHI map. "Children and the elderly should also avoid outdoor physical exertion."
An air quality rating of 7-10 is labelled as "high risk," while a 10+ rating is "very high risk."
The smoke is the result of several wildlfires burning across the province.
On a different scale, the World Air Quality Index rates the air quality at the St. Lina station as 415, which is deemed to be "hazardous."
The Lakeland Industry and Community Association also has information on its website regarding air quality in the region.
