UPDATE: 10 a.m.
A dust advisory for Vernon remains in effect for a second day.
Environment Canada says the advisory is expected to continue until a change in the weather.
ORIGINAL STORY: Wednesday a.m.
The return of the warm dry weather has also seen the return of a dust advisory for Vernon.
It’s the fourth such advisory issued this year by the Ministry of Environment and Interior Health, caused by road traction material being lifted into the air by vehicles.
Municipal crews have started street sweeping programs which will help the issue, but it will take several weeks to get to all the roads.
“Persons with chronic underlying medical conditions should postpone strenuous exercise until the advisory is lifted,” says Air Quality Meteorologist Graham Veale. “Staying indoors and in air-conditioned spaces helps to reduce particulate exposure. Exposure is particularly a concern for infants, the elderly and those who have diabetes, and lung or heart disease.”
More information on current air quality can be found at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/air.
“PM10 concentrations are currently above advisory levels. Latest measurements at the Vernon Science Centre indicate an hourly average of 186 micrograms per cubic metre.
The average for the past 24 hours is 58 micrograms per cubic metre, which exceeds the provincial air quality objective of 50 micrograms per cubic metre,” adds Veale.
