Smoke forecast/accuweather.com

By Jamie Tawil

Smoky skies

Smoky skies blanket the Okanagan amid wind warning

Aug 13, 2025 | 7:17 AM

The Okanagan woke up to hazy skies Wednesday morning as smoke from the Port Alberni wildfire drifted into the region, carried by strong northerly winds.

AccuWeather’s smoke radar indicates the haze will remain over the valley until at least 1 p.m., affecting visibility and air quality across much of the central and southern Okanagan.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the area, warning of northerly wind gusts that could reach 70 kilometres-an-hour later in the day. The gusts are expected to develop over northern Okanagan Lake by mid-afternoon, before spreading south through the valley into the evening.

The weather agency said the shift in winds comes ahead of a cold front moving through B.C.’s Southern Interior. Along with pushing smoke into the Okanagan, the gusts could make conditions challenging for recreational boaters and others on Okanagan and Skaha lakes.

The Mount Underwood wildfire near Port Alberni has surged in recent days, nearly tripling in size to cover about 14 square kilometres.

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Environment Canada is advising residents to monitor local forecasts and air quality reports, and to take precautions if they are sensitive to smoke.