View of the Keremeos Creek Fire from Ollala on Saturday, August 6, 2022, Smoke from the Keremeos Creek fire is expected to drift into the Kelowna and Vernon areas this evening. The predicted air quality health index for the Central Okanagan and North Okanagan is 2 on a scale of 1 to 10, but 7+ when smoke is considered. “The models we’re looking at show that there will be a wind shift later this afternoon into this afternoon from light northerly to southerly winds. So this will bring some smoke from the Keremeos Creek fire,” said meteorologist Johnson Zhong. “It won’t be too, too serious, I would say. It’s probably just local smoke for tonight until tomorrow morning,” he adds. The firesmoke.ca forecast also shows heavier smoke drifting out of the South Okanagan starting around 4 p.m. in the Kelowna area. It is expected to mostly dissipate by Monday afternoon. Along with the Keremeos Creek fire, there are a number of blazes burning in Washington and Oregon that are spewing smoke into BC’s southern interior. Air Quality Index readings above 7 are considered “high risk”. The elderly, young children and people with respiratory or other serious health conditions should take it easy, including reducing or rescheduling vigorous activity. The general population is advised to reduce or reschedule strenuous activities if they experience symptoms such as cough and throat irritation.
