Here’s the smoke forecast and air quality outlook for North Vancouver Island this week:

Smoke & Air Quality Overview

Friday, August 14 – Saturday, August 16:

• Expect intermittent periods of rainfall, which should help clear lingering smoke or haze. The wet conditions will likely improve air quality temporarily by washing particulates from the air.
• Environment Canada has issued a Rainfall Warning for the Metro Vancouver – North Shore region (which also covers nearby areas across the sound). Heavy downpours could deliver 50–80 mm+ of rain, significantly aiding in clearing smoke and pollutants .

Sunday, August 17 – Wednesday, August 20:

• The skies are forecasted to clear up with increasing sunshine and diminishing clouds. This means that any residual smoke could linger if there are ongoing fires or drift from inland, due to limited precipitation after Saturday.
• With stable, dry weather returning, light winds could allow particulates to accumulate, especially in low-lying valleys.

Air Quality Recommendations

• During Rain Events (Friday–Saturday): Take advantage of naturally cleaner air for outdoor activities. Wearing a light rain jacket as needed will help you make the most of these fresh conditions.

• During Dry, Sunny Days (Sunday onward):

  • Keep an eye on local air quality indices (AQI) via apps like the BC Smoke Dashboard or Google’s Air Quality layer.
  • If AQI rises (e.g., AQI > 100), sensitive individuals — such as children, seniors, and those with respiratory conditions — should consider staying indoors or reducing physical exertion outdoors.
  • Even when visible smoke isn’t present, small particulate matter (PM₂.₅) may still be elevated.

Day-by-Day Smoke Outlook:

Final Takeaway:
Rainfall Friday and Saturday offers great natural smoke-clearing potential. Enjoy the outdoors during that window! Afterward, watch for accumulating haze during the dry stretch Sunday through mid-week, especially if nearby wildfires continue. Monitoring AQI in real time will be key for deciding when it’s safe to be outside.

Sayward is bracing for a stretch of cooler, wetter weather:

• Thursday to Monday: Expect cloudy skies with scattered showers and occasional heavier rain.

• Tuesday: Warming and drying begin as skies clear.

This cooling trend is a noticeable shift from previous drier, warmer conditions.

Fire Risk Outlook: Temporarily Reduced

Fuel Moisture Gains

Persistent rain throughout the weekend and into early next week will substantially rehydrate surface fuels—leaf litter, fallen branches, and underbrush. This dampening effect lowers the likelihood of new wildfires and helps extinguish any smoldering hot spots. Such moisture return is critical to preventing fire starts.

Cooler Conditions

Daytime highs in the high teens (°C) with cloud cover and light winds create a less conducive environment for fire. Cooler, stable weather will keep fire danger in the “Low to Moderate” range for the coming week.

Seasonal Context

This weather arrives at a pivotal moment. After a dry spring and early summer—marked by intense fire activity and early fire bans—this rain provides relief and recharges fuel moisture, especially in coastal and central parts of BC.

Fire Season Status & Expert Insight

• Provincial Outlook: BC Wildfire Service’s June seasonal forecast cautioned that a dry June could extend fire season, but early summer rainfall helped mitigate immediate threats for coastal zones.

• Rain’s Role: Recent reports indicate that regions receiving as much as 100 mm of rain have seen significant reductions in wildfire activity—and more wet weather is forecast across BC.

• 2025 Fire Severity: This year is tracking as Canada’s second-worst wildfire season on record, with over 7 million hectares burned by early August. Western Canada, including BC, has suffered above-average fire incidence tied to long-term dryness and warming.

Week-By-Week Fire Danger Forecast

Risk should remain subdued into next week. Once rains end, vigilance is crucial as warming resumes.

What You Can Do

• Continue avoiding open fires or burning until fire bans are lifted.

• Stay updated with BC Wildfire Service and local Sayward fire advisories.

• Enjoy the forest safely—ideal conditions for hiking, paddling, and exploring, provided you observe FireSmart guidelines.

Looking Ahead

Once rain subsides, warmer days will begin drying fuels again. Long-range forecasts still suggest a potential increase in fire risk later in August—particularly if La Niña conditions bring recurring dry spells.

Bottom Line

This current rainy stretch is good news for Sayward and the forest—it brings short-term relief and reduced fire risk. But don’t be complacent: with this summer’s extreme fire season, conditions can worsen quickly once it dries out. Stay informed and be ready when fire danger creeps back.

Early sockeye salmon counts in Johnstone Strait are raising hopes for a strong run this season. On July 31, the test fishery recorded a staggering 14,550 sockeye—the highest single-day total for July since monitoring began.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has tallied over 700,000 early sockeye so far, far surpassing the pre-season forecast of 160,000. While the exact cause remains unclear, DFO spokesperson Leri Davies credited collaborative conservation efforts by First Nations and government agencies.

This resurgence comes six years after a devastating landslide blocked access to key spawning grounds. Davies said commercial and recreational fisheries may reopen later this season, but for now, First Nations fisheries remain the priority under conservation protocols.

On August 1, ʼNa̱mǥis Nation fishers joined others for a four-day food, social, and ceremonial (FSC) fishery. A second FSC window opened August 6 and runs through August 9. The ʼNa̱mǥis have been allocated a 5,000-sockeye quota, which hereditary chief and retired fisherman Don Svanvik said could mean about a dozen fish per household if the full quota is caught.

Svanvik reflected on the scarcity of sockeye in recent years, noting that the ʼNa̱mǥis have only fished for sockeye in four of the past 15 years—2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. “It’s gotten to the point where some people think sockeye only return every four years,” he said. But this year’s run feels different.

He recalled a time when his family would catch 100 to 150 sockeye annually. Known locally as “sliders” for their signature half-circle leaps, sockeye are once again a familiar sight. “Right now, everybody on Johnstone Strait is seeing those fins flash across the water,” he said.

Both Svanvik and Morton believe the closure of Atlantic salmon farms in 2021 off Vancouver Island’s east coast may be playing a role. “This is the first year and last year where we’re starting to see returns of fish that weren’t exposed to salmon farms as juveniles,” Morton explained. “People are wondering—could that be why the numbers are so high?”

Kwakiutl hereditary chief and elected councillor David Knox echoed that the rebound likely has multiple causes. He also warned that salmon face ongoing threats beyond fish farms, including logging, mining, and deep-sea trawling. Knox, who spent five years on trawl boats, emphasized the need for broader protections.

He also voiced frustration over restrictions that prevent Indigenous communities from fishing for economic gain. Knox plans to launch a “pre-confederation” fishery outside DFO regulations, citing rights under the 1851 Fort Rupert Douglas treaties.

Meanwhile, commercial salmon fishing remains closed in Johnstone Strait-area waters on both sides of the Canada–U.S. border.

Due to a temporary equipment issue, the Emergency Department (ED) at Port Hardy Hospital is currently closed. It is expected to reopen at 7 a.m. on Sunday, August 4.

All other inpatient services at Port Hardy Hospital remain open and operating as usual.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency during this time, please call 911 or, if possible, go directly to the nearest open emergency department at Port McNeill Hospital. Do not go to the Port Hardy Hospital ED while it is closed, as this may delay access to urgent care. Island Health and BC Emergency Health Services have procedures in place to ensure 911 callers are transported to the appropriate facility.

For non-emergency health concerns, you can speak with a registered nurse at any time by calling HealthLink BC at 811—available 24/7 and toll-free.

First Nations individuals and communities can also access the First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day service, available daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To book an appointment, call 1-855-344-3800.

Island Health recognizes the inconvenience this temporary closure may cause and sincerely apologizes for the disruption. We appreciate the community’s understanding as we work to restore full services.

A scheduled emergency power outage on Thursday, July 3, temporarily cut electricity to the entire Woss-to-north region—except for Port Alice, which remained powered by a generator. The outage, which lasted from 12 to 5 p.m., was prompted by the discovery of a broken cross arm on a transmission structure just south of Woss. BC Hydro deemed the issue critical and moved quickly to address it.

“We understand the timing was difficult, especially during a busy season for businesses and tourism,” said BC Hydro spokesperson Ted Olynyk. “We’re grateful for everyone’s patience and understanding.”

The defect was discovered just a day before the outage. Given the risk of structural failure and potential fire, BC Hydro acted swiftly, notifying the public through social media and the North Island Gazette.

Thanks to fast coordination and response, crews completed repairs ahead of schedule, restoring power by 3:30 p.m.

“Everything went smoothly,” Olynyk said. “Outstanding planning, strong teamwork, and the dedication of our crews—some of whom returned from holidays—made it possible to get the job done early.”

Olynyk also emphasized that many BC Hydro team members live in the island communities they serve and take outages personally.

“They care deeply about their work and their neighbours,” he added. “Hats off to the team for stepping up and helping minimize the disruption.”

Watering restrictions are in effect to ensure sufficient water reserves for firefighting and adequate supply for all residents. Please adhere to the following schedule for outdoor water use:

Even Numbered Addresses
Watering permitted on even numbered dates

Odd Numbered Addresses
Watering permitted on odd numbered dates

Permitted Watering Times
6am to 10am
6pm to 10pm