Environment Canada ended a special air quality statement for Edmonton, St. Albert and Sherwood Park on Wednesday afternoon.
The agency issued the alert on Tuesday because elevated pollution levels were “expected or occurring.”
“High pressure and light wind have contributed to very little mixing at the surface,” Global Edmonton’s chief meteorologist Jesse Beyer said on Tuesday. “This is what has kept all the particulate matter at the surface in the city of Edmonton.”
According to the alert, people may have experienced increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath. Symptoms could be worse for children, seniors and anyone with cardiovasvular or lung disease such as asthma.
Anyone experiencing symptoms was encouraged to stay indoors until the statement is lifted.
“The stagnant pattern should get a break late Wednesday with some increased wind at the surface and some movement in atmosphere with an incoming low pressure system,” Beyer said.
When the alert was issued at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Edmonton’s Air Quality Health Index sat at a seven, or high risk.
On Tuesday evening, the special air quality statement was expanded to include more areas northeast of Edmonton. That was also lifted on Wednesday afternoon.
For a complete list of areas in Alberta under a weather warning, watch or advisory, click here.