West Coast wildfire smoke blows into southern Quebec

MONTREAL -- Smoke from the extreme wildfires burning on the U.S. West Coast has travelled thousands of kilometres and reached southern Quebec.

Montreal residents woke up to hazy skies Tuesday morning, amazed that the smoke travelled such distances.

"It is solely smoke you’re seeing right now over Montreal," said Simon Legault of Environment and Climate Change Canada. "There is no clouds, just smoke, so it’s impressive!"

The jetstream is carrying smoke from wildfires on the West Coast, across the country, high in the atmosphere. Most of Quebec, except northern regions like Cote-Nord, and a large part of the U.S. are experiencing this phenomenon.

Unlike the West Coast, the haze in the east is still high up in the atmosphere and has not had an impact on air quality. The air quality in Montreal is considered "good" whereas the much of the West Coast is at "very unhealthy" or "hazardous" levels. 

The hazy conditions are likely to persist in Montreal until Wednesday night, when a front is expected to push through and bring a few showers. 

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  The sun was shaded by smoke Tuesday as widlfires sent smoke into the region. SOURCE: Pooja Chadee

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  Montrealers woke up Tuesday morning to a hazy sun courtesy of smoke from wildfires on the West Coast. SOURCE Jonathan Perron

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  Smoke from wildfires on the West Coast caused the sun to turn orange in Montreal Tuesday. SOURCE: Wayne Grubert

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  Montrealers woke up to hazy skies Tuesday morning as smoke from wildfires on the West Coast crept into the region. SOURCE: Jonathan Perron