Environment Canada issues Smog Warning for Montreal

Montreal is ending the month under a smog warning.

According to Environment Canada, “high concentration of pollutants are expected and will result in poor air quality.”

Smog is especially harmful against asthmatic children and people with respiratory ailments or heart disease, according to the alert. The weather agency recommends that these specific individuals avoid intense physical activity outdoors until the warning is lifted.

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Friday’s high concentrations of pollutants are expected to persist throughout the morning and is forecasted to “deteriorate again this evening.”

The alert was issued in the early hours of Friday morning and is in effect for the following areas:

• Châteauguay – La Prairie area
• Laval area
• Longueuil – Varennes area
• Montréal Island area

Environment Canada suggests we can all help improve air quality by doing simple things, such as using public transit, reducing our driving speed, and not letting our car engines idle unnecessarily.

Quebec residents are also urged to stop using wood-burning stoves or fireplaces until the warning has subsided.

For air quality indexes in Quebec, visit Ministère du Développement durable website and for Montreal’s air quality, the Réseau de surveillance de la qualité de l’air de la Ville de Montréal.

The website also asks citizens to continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada.