Smoke from western wildfires to blame for hazy southern Ontario skies
Upper-level smoke from wildfires out west are making for hazy skies over southern Ontario, according to Global News meteorologist Anthony Farnell.
'The smoke here is mostly from fires burning in Saskatchewan and Manitoba but there is also some fire smoke from northwestern Ontario in there as well,' he explained Tuesday morning, noting that it is also keeping a lid on warmer weather.
'Today it's at its thickest higher up in the atmosphere which is leading to these hazy skies and will likely affect the temperature today, keeping it a degree or so cooler than if we didn't have any smoke.'
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
The issue is expected to partially clear up on Wednesday ,although that will not last for long.
Story continues below advertisement
'Tomorrow ahead of a cold front, air quality will start to deteriorate as some of the lower level particulates move in from those same fires,' Farnell said.
'The air will temporarily clear out with rain Wednesday night into Thursday, but smoke will likely be back by the weekend. Smoke will be a frequent occurrence depending on which was the winds blow until a soaking rain falls out west, and that's still at least several days away.'
This could be an ongoing issue throughout the summer as Farnell's summer forecast calls for hot, dry weather for the Prairies throughout the summer months.
Out in Saskatchewan, there are currently 18 fires actively burning. The province has already seen 219 fires already this year, a number which is well above the fire-year average of 131.
It is estimated that more than 8,000 people have been evacuated from their homes as a result of the ongoing fires.
It is a similar situation in Manitoba, as more than 17,000 people have been forced to leave their homes since last week, including 5,000 residents of Flin Flon, which is near the border with Saskatchewan.
The province say rain on Monday was not enough to stop the 25 wildfires that were reported to be burning in the province on Sunday.
Story continues below advertisement
— With files from Global News and the Canadian Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
40 minutes ago
- Global News
Pakistan authorities defend flood response after 274 people killed
BUNER, Pakistan (AP) — Rescuers recovered dozens more bodies from the rubble of collapsed homes in a northwestern district of Pakistan, bringing the death toll to at least 274, as authorities defended their response to the flooding and said they did not need any foreign help at this point. Heavy rains and flooding also killed dozens of people in neighboring Kashmir. 1:54 South Asia flooding: Why the Kashmir region is increasingly susceptible to climate change Mohammad Suhail, a spokesman for Pakistan's emergency service, said 54 bodies were found in Buner, a mountainous area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where torrential rains and cloudbursts triggered massive flooding on Friday. Story continues below advertisement Suhail said villagers remain missing, and search efforts are focused on areas where homes were flattened by torrents of water that swept down from the mountains, carrying boulders that smashed into houses like explosions. Authorities have warned of more deluges and possible landslides between now and Tuesday, urging local administrations to remain on alert. Higher-than-normal monsoon rains have lashed the country since June 26 and killed more than 600. In India-administered Kashmir, located across Pakistan's northeastern border, rains triggered more flash floods in two villages in the Kathua district, killing seven people, officials said Sunday. Rescuers in Chositi village are still looking for dozens of missing people after the area was hit by flash floods last week during an annual Hindu pilgrimage. At least 60 people were killed, and some 150 injured. Over 300 others were rescued. Warnings of more intense rain to come Residents in Buner have accused officials of failing to warn them to evacuate after torrential rain and cloudbursts triggered deadly flooding and landslides. There was no warning broadcast from mosque loudspeakers, a traditional method in remote areas. Story continues below advertisement The government said that while an early warning system was in place, the sudden downpour in Buner was so intense that the deluge struck before residents could be alerted. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Lt. Gen. Inam Haider, chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, told a hastily convened news conference in Islamabad that Pakistan was experiencing shifting weather patterns because of climate change. Since the monsoon season began in June, Pakistan has already received 50% more rainfall than in the same period last year, he added. 1:03 Pakistan floods: 9 dead after relatives attempt to rescue children swept away He warned that more intense weather could follow, with heavy rains forecast to continue this month. Some countries have reached out to Islamabad offering help, but Haider said Pakistan has sufficient resources and does not require foreign assistance at this time. Asfandyar Khan Khattak, director-general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, said there was 'no forecasting system anywhere in the world' that could predict the exact time and location of a cloudburst, a sudden and intense downpour. Story continues below advertisement Mohammad Iqbal, a schoolteacher in Pir Baba village, said the lack of a timely warning system caused casualties and forced many to flee their homes at the last moment. 'Survivors escaped with nothing,' he said. 'If people had been informed earlier, lives could have been saved and residents could have moved to safer places.' People still missing Idrees Mahsud, a disaster management official, said Pakistan's early warning system used satellite imagery and meteorological data to send alerts to local authorities. These were shared through the media and community leaders. He said monsoon rains that once only swelled rivers now also triggered urban flooding. An emergency services spokesman in Buner, Mohammad Sohail, said more than half the damaged roads in the district had reopened by Sunday, allowing vehicles and heavy machinery to reach cut-off villages. Story continues below advertisement Crews were clearing piles of rocks and mud dumped by the floods. They were still using heavy machinery to remove the rubble of collapsed homes after families reported that some of their relatives were missing. In one of the deadliest incidents, 24 people from one family died in the village of Qadar Nagar when floodwaters swept through their home on the eve of a wedding. The head of the family, Umar Khan, said he survived the floods because he was out of the house at the time. Four of his relatives have yet to be found. Extreme weather Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters. In 2022, a record-breaking monsoon killed nearly 1,700 people and destroyed millions of homes. The country also suffers regular flash floods and landslides during the monsoon season, which runs from June to September, particularly in the rugged northwest, where villages are often perched on steep slopes and riverbanks. Story continues below advertisement Experts say climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of such extreme weather events in South Asia. Khalid Khan, a weather expert, said Pakistan produces less than 1% of planet-warming emissions but faces heatwaves, heavy rains, glacial outburst floods and now cloudbursts, underscoring how climate change is devastating communities within hours. 1:59 Pakistan monsoon: 63 killed in Punjab flooding in deadliest day ___ Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Rasool Dawar in Buner, Pakistan, contributed to this story, which was published Aug. 17, 2025.
Global News
4 hours ago
- Global News
Spain deploys 500 more troops to wildfire fight, joining 1,400 already sent
Spain is deploying a further 500 soldiers to battle wildfires that have torn through parched woodland during a prolonged spell of scorching weather, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Sunday. The decision to add to the more than 1,400 troops already on wildfire duty came as authorities struggled to contain forest blazes, especially in the northwestern Galicia region, and awaited the arrival of promised aircraft reinforcements from other European countries. The government's move also came amid dramatic scenes of residents armed with garden hoses and buckets joining forces to try and save their homes from encroaching blazes. 1:52 Europe suffocates in record-breaking heat dome Firefighters are tackling 12 major wildfires in Galicia, all of them near the city of Ourense, the head of the Galician regional government Alfonso Rueda told a press conference with Sánchez. Story continues below advertisement 'Homes are still under threat so we have lockdowns in place and are carrying out evacuations,' Rueda said. Galicia has been battling the spreading flames for more than a week. View image in full screen Firefighters battle a wildfire in Veiga das Meas, northwestern Spain, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Lalo R. Villar). MF Temperatures in Spain could reach 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas on Sunday, the Spanish national weather agency AEMET said. On Saturday, the maximum temperature was 44.7 degrees Celsius (112.46 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southern city of Cordoba, it said. 'This Sunday, when extraordinarily high temperatures are expected, the danger of wildfires is extreme in most of the country,' AEMET said on the social platform X. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The fires in Spain this year have burned 158,000 hectares (390,000 acres), according to the European Union's European Forest Fire Information System. That is an area roughly as big as metropolitan London. Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen Local residents and volunteers work together to battle an encroaching wildfire in Larouco, northwestern Spain, Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Lalo R. Villar). MF Europe has been warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Scientists say that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness in parts of Europe, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires. Spain awaits European firefighters, more planes Spain was expecting the arrival of two Dutch water-dumping planes that were to join aircraft from France and Italy already helping Spanish authorities under a European cooperation agreement. Firefighters from other countries are also expected to arrive in the region in coming days, Spain's Civil Protection Agency chief Virginia Barcones told public broadcaster RTVE. National rail operator Renfe said it suspended Madrid-Galicia high-speed train services scheduled for Sunday due to the fires. Story continues below advertisement Galician authorities advised people to wear face masks and limit their time spent outdoors to avoid inhaling smoke and ash. Portugal heads into cooler days Portugal is set for cooler weather in coming days after a spate of severe woodland fires. A national state of alert due to wildfires was enacted Aug. 2 and was due to end Sunday, a day before two Swedish firefighting planes were to arrive. As in Spain, Portugal's resources have been stretched. On Sunday, more than 4,000 firefighters and more than 1,300 vehicles were deployed, as well as 17 aircraft, the country's Civil Protection Agency said. 0:49 Portugal is using goats to prevent wildfires, but there's a catch The scorched area of forest in Portugal so far this year is 17 times higher than in 2024, at around 139,000 hectares, according to preliminary calculations by the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests, a government body. Story continues below advertisement Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania have also requested help from the EU's firefighting force in recent days to deal with forest fires. The force has already been activated as many times this year as in all of last year's summer fire season. Turkish fires threaten area of Gallipoli memorials In Turkey, where recent wildfires have killed 19 people, parts of the historic region that includes memorials to World War I's Gallipoli campaign were evacuated Sunday as blazes threatened homes in the country's northwest. Six villages were evacuated as a precautionary measure, the governor of Canakkale province, Omer Toraman, said. Story continues below advertisement Some 1,300 firefighting personnel backed by 30 aircraft were battling the blaze, according to the General Directorate of Forestry. A wildfire on the peninsula to the north of the Dardanelles Strait led to the closure of visitor facilities at Gallipoli, the site's management said. The area is dotted with cemeteries, memorials and other remnants of battles waged between Ottoman and Allied troops in 1915. Turkey has been struck by hundreds of fires since late June, fueled by record-breaking temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds. ___ Andrew Wilks in Istanbul contributed to this Associated Press story, which was published August 17, 2025.
Global News
5 hours ago
- Global News
Recipe: Scallop gnocchi
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Executive Chef Alex Guido Fanny Bay Oyster Bar and Shellfish Market Scallop Gnocchi: Scallop Gnocchi strikes the perfect balance between summer freshness and satisfying comfort. August is peak season for scallops in many coastal regions, making them exceptionally sweet, tender, and ideal for showcasing on a seasonal menu. Paired with light, pillowy gnocchi and vibrant summer ingredients like fresh herbs, tomatoes, corn, or citrus, the dish feels elegant yet approachable, perfect for warm weather without being too heavy. And it is also perfect for September, the transition between summer and fall. Recipe: Scallop Gnocchi Potato Gnocchi · 908g cooked potato · 500g AP Flour Story continues below advertisement · 2 large eggs · 1 tsp salt · 1 teaspoon nutmeg · 1 table Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Method · Bake Russet Potatoes in oven until fully cooked and soft. · Pass cooked potatoes through potato ricer · Mix flour, eggs, nutmeg, and salt into a dough. Yield: About 10 portions at 6oz each Marinara Sauce · 1tbsp olive oil · 1 large yellow onion, diced · 1 can (2.84l) whole tomato (blend with hand blender before cooking) · 1 tbsp dry oregano · 1 tbsp minced garlic · 1 tbsp sugar · Salt to taste Method · Sweat onions and garlic in olive oil, about 5 mins · Add blended cans of tomato, oregano, and sugar Story continues below advertisement · Cook on low heat for about 45 minutes. · Season with salt to taste Yield: About 2 liters of sauce Scallops Method · Pat dry 5 scallops with absorbent paper towel · Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a non-stick skillet · When oil is close to smoking, place scallops in skillet, making sure they are well spaced apart. Lower heat to medium · Sear scallops until golden brown, add 2 nobs of butter, flip scallops and lightly baste. · Remove scallops and place them on paper towel to absorb any grease. Cooking Instructions · Bring a pot of water to a boil to cook gnocchi for about 3-5 minutes, until thet begin to float up. · In a separate pot, heat up Marinera sauce · Add gnocchi to hot marinera sauce, and season with salt as desired. · Serve in a bowl or plate and place seared scallops on top. · Garnish with fried capers and picked basil.
