Colleen Bready's Forecast: Smoky July coming to end
The weather agency says it observed 172 hours of smoke in the city as of 1 a.m. Thursday, followed by 163 hours in August 1961.
ECCC says 2025 is already the second smokiest wildfire season on record in Winnipeg, with 263 hours of smoke observed as of 1 a.m. Thursday, eclipsing 2021 with 262 hours. Wildfire season is considered to run from April to October.
The smokiest year in Winnipeg was 1961, with 304 hours of smoke. That said, 2025 could be on the brink of setting a new record with just a few hours needed to surpass 1961.
The weather agency's air quality warnings remain in effect Thursday for Winnipeg, Brandon and much of southern Manitoba. However, the warning has ended for Dauphin and surrounding regions in the southwest.
The warning also continues for central areas and has now expanded to include most northern regions up to the Nunavut border, with the exception of parts of the northeast.
Compounding matters for firefighters and residents in the northwest is a heat warning now in effect for The Pas, Flin Flon and Lynn Lake regions.
Hot highs close to 30 C and warm overnight lows in the upper teens are expected for the next three days.
Although winds have shifted to more of a southwesterly flow in southern regions, smoke still lingers over Winnipeg Thursday. It could continue into Friday as it slowly moves out along light winds.
Otherwise, temperatures will heat up into the upper 20s starting on Friday through the long weekend in the city, with sunshine or a mix of sun and clouds throughout that period.
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