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Smoke blankets the Okanagan (Image Credit: Vernon Matters Staff)
By Vernon Matters Staff
Smoke to Return

Wildfire smoke set to return to Okanagan this weekend

Aug 28, 2026 | 10:50 AM

The Okanagan could be in for a smoky weekend, despite a relatively clear start to Friday.

Air quality officials are warning that wildfire smoke will likely become more noticeable across the region over the next couple of days, with the potential for conditions to deteriorate as the weekend progresses.

A yellow-level air quality advisory remains in place for the Okanagan Valley, along with a number of other Southern Interior regions.

The haze is being driven by a combination of wildfire smoke already circulating through the province and additional smoke drifting north from fires in the United States.

The amount of smoke people experience could vary significantly depending on local winds and how individual wildfire plumes move. That means conditions in one part of the Okanagan may be noticeably different from those just a short distance away.

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Residents are being encouraged to pay attention to changing air quality and adjust outdoor plans accordingly. Strenuous exercise outdoors may need to be reduced or postponed when smoke levels are high.

People who are particularly sensitive to poor air quality should take additional care. That includes young children, older adults, pregnant people and those living with heart or lung conditions or other chronic illnesses.

by Vernon Matters Staff
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What Matters

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18h ago
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18h ago
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