UPDATE: All special air quality statements mentioned in this story have ended with the exception of the Pelican Narrows region
A special air quality statement issued by Environment Canada has ended southern Saskatchewan, but remains in place for the Pelican Narrows region due to wildfire smoke.
The agency said smokey conditions are expected to return Wednesday morning.
READ MORE: Prince Albert feeling the strain from wildfire evacuees
Winds will concentrate the remaining smoke in the area into a west-east band running from Kindersley to Kamsack, degrading air quality as it moves southward in the evening.
Officials said the band of smoke will last for six to nine hours in most locations.
Further north, smoke plumes from wildfires in the Pelican Narrows area are expected to drift southwards Wednesday evening.
This will produce a wide swath of reduced visibility and poor air quality in the Melfort, Tisdale, Nipawin, Carrot River, Hudson Bay and Porcupine Plain regions.
Conditions are expected to improve Thursday morning, but northerly winds will continue to blow the smoke plumes southward throughout Thursday and Friday.
READ MORE: Two northern Saskatchewan wildfires grow in size
People living in the affected regions may experience sore eyes, tears, coughing and a runny nose.
Those at a higher risk include young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with heart and lung conditions.
People should limit outdoor activity and to stop or reduced activities if breathing becomes difficult or uncomfortable.
For the latest weather alerts download the Global News Skytracker weather app for iPhone, iPad or Android.
Special air quality continued for:
- Pelican Narrows – Cumberland House – Creighton
Special air quality ended for:
- Regina
- Assiniboia – Gravelbourg – Coronach
- Carlyle – Oxbow – Carnduff – Bienfait – Stoughton
- Estevan – Weyburn – Radville – Milestone
- Fort Qu’Appelle – Indian Head – Lumsden – Pilot Butte
- Hudson Bay – Porcupine Plain
- Humboldt – Wynyard – Wadena – Lanigan – Foam Lake
- Kamsack – Canora – Preeceville
- Kindersley – Rosetown – Biggar – Wilkie – Macklin
- Leader – Gull Lake
- Melfort – Tisdale – Nipawin – Carrot River
- Moose Jaw – Pense – Central Butte – Craik
- Moosomin – Grenfell – Kipling – Wawota
- Outlook – Watrous – Hanley – Imperial – Dinsmore
- Shaunavon – Maple Creek – Val Marie – Cypress Hills
- Swift Current – Herbert – Cabri – Kyle – Lucky Lake
- Yorkton – Melville – Esterhazy
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