As smoky skies from the wildfires burning throughout B.C. persist, air quality remains poor throughout much of the province, including in Metro Vancouver — but some regions have seen a reprieve. According to the B.C. air quality data map, Comox Valley, West Shore, Victoria, southwest Metro Vancouver, Castlegar, Smithers and Fort St. John and the eastern Fraser Valley had a 10+ rating as of 5 p.m. PT. Tuesday, indicating a very high health risk. At this risk level, people are recommended to reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors. In a release, Metro Vancouver also issued a warning to people who are particularly vulnerable to the smoke. "Be aware of people who should take extra care, including anyone with chronic conditions such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes, as well as pregnant women, infants, young children, and the elderly," it read in part. While some areas of B.C. were in the blue early on Tuesday, air quality levels have since dipped. (Government of British Columbia) According to the map, shades of red indicate a high health risk , shades of orange and yellow indicate a moderate health risk, and shades of blue indicate a low health risk. Ozone warning in Metro Vancouver Metro Vancouver also issued a warning of health risks caused by high amounts of ground-level ozone. The district said ground-level ozone is formed when nitrous oxides — created by burning fuels — and the emissions from solvents — like paint, gasoline, industrial coatings, glues and nail polish — react in the sunlight. "The highest levels of ground-level ozone are generally observed between mid-afternoon and early evening on summer days," the district advised. "Avoid strenuous outdoor activities, particularly during mid-afternoon and early evening when ozone levels are highest." Willows Beach in Oak Bay, as pictured on Monday. (Emily Brass/CBC) Reprieve could come for some on Thursday Several areas were classified as low risk on Tuesday morning, but the air quality dipped as the day progressed. High pressure has pulled smoke away from the Interior towards the coast, and continues to trap smoke at the surface, according to CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe. An approaching front from the northwest will begin to flatten the high-pressure system beginning on Wednesday, although a new westerly flow may actually enhance smoke across B.C. 's Interior and Alberta. But relief could come by Thursday, as a front tracking through much of B.C. could bring scattered showers, cooler temperatures and the potential for thunderstorms. View from space of the smoke across B.C. yesterday Aug 20th. Note some improvement in the Interior as high pressure pulls smoke towards the coast. Hoping for some good mixing through Thur for all.. along with some showers, cooler temps, tstorms. #doubleedgedsword #modis #nasa pic.twitter.com/JSmftGoUIF —@JWagstaffe Temperature records broken Despite the layer of smoke blocking some of the sun's heat, seven temperature records were broken across the province on Monday. Temperatures in Squamish climbed to 35 C, and 33 C in Abbotsford and Agassiz. ICYMI: 7 new daily maximum temperature records were set along the BC Coast yesterday including #Abbotsford & #Squamish with some records going back to 1874! #BCwx pic.twitter.com/3tL3sXNdww —@ECCCWeatherBC Read more from CBC British Columbia<doc-sep>Vancouver Weather: Hazy and cloudy, with an air quality alert still in effect Article content VANCOUVER, B.C. – It looks like another hazy morning for Metro Vancouver, but Environment Canada is predicting the smoke will clear up a bit this afternoon as a new weather system moves in. The agency says it will be mainly cloudy on Thursday, with a high of 20 C. An air quality advisory remains in effect, however, because of the high concentrations of particulate matter in the air. Ross Macdonald, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said Thursday will be a day of transition, as a push of marine air comes in and gradually flushes out some of the smoke. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Vancouver Weather: Hazy and cloudy, with an air quality alert still in effect Back to video “We are expecting the levels of particulate matter to come down,” he said, noting the air quality has already improved somewhat on Vancouver Island. “Unfortunately the Interior of B.C. will continue to face challenges with the smoke.” Friday is expected to be a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 20 C and a chance of showers. There is also rain in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday, with highs of 19 C and 18 C, respectively.<doc-sep>Vancouver ranked as 5th major city in the world for worst air quality on Wednesday. Article content The air quality in Vanderhoof from B.C. wildfire smoke is more than double the level considered hazardous to health, according to the World Air Quality Index. According to Air Visual, which tracks the global levels with an interactive map, a hazard level of air pollution is an AQI level of 301. Vanderhoof, in central B.C., had an AQI rating of 619. Other B.C. communities with ratings far exceeding levels considered hazardous were Houston at 410 AQI and Burns Lake at 408 AQI. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or B.C. Wildfires 2018: Air quality in Vanderhoof double hazardous levels Back to video Vanderhoof Mayor Gerry Thiessen said the smoke was “really bad” on Wednesday. Vanderhoof is located about 30 kilometres away from the more than 86,000-hectare Shovel Lake wildfire, he said, adding there was no wind on Wednesday, trapping the haze in the valley. Community members and council were busy planning events at the YMCA and various churches to keep people busy. “The air is really bad on the lungs but it’s also emotionally draining,” he said. “That’s why we are working really hard to find indoor activities for people.”<doc-sep>Share this Story: B.C. Wildfires 2018: Mental health a concern as smoke chokes province B.C. Wildfires 2018: Mental health a concern as smoke chokes province Health experts say the fear of climate change may be causing a lot of anxiety. Photo by DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS Article content Smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning around B.C. could be harming more than just your physical well-being, say health experts. It may also lead to poor mental health. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or B.C. Wildfires 2018: Mental health a concern as smoke chokes province Back to video The Canadian Mental Health Association is urging B.C. residents to practise self-care and good mental wellness during this prolonged stretch of poor air quality caused by the more than 500 wildfires burning around the province. That may include getting lots of rest, exercising indoors, spending more time with friends, and speaking to a professional if the anxiety persists more than a couple of weeks. On Thursday, an air quality alert continued for much of the province, including Metro Vancouver, because of high levels of particulate matter in the air from wildfires. Some areas in the Interior and Central B.C. have experienced air quality levels this week that far exceed what are considered hazardous to health. AQI levels in Vanderhoof, for example, were double the hazardous level on Wednesday. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Maya Russell, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Mental Health Association, said for many British Columbians the smoke is causing anxiety about climate change. “Climate change is abstract, but when you can see it in the form of pollution and smoke, you are taking something that felt far away and bringing it right up close,” she said. Also, such a long stretch of poor air quality is unprecedented in Metro Vancouver, and that can cause a feeling of losing control, she added. Photo by DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS Breathing can be a tool to manage anxiety, but if people are scared about what they are breathing in the air, that could cause them to become even more anxious, she said. Russell says there are ways to mitigate that anxiety. The first is to remind yourself that the smoke is temporary and the sky will return to normal. Environment Canada expected the conditions to improve by Friday, as a new weather system moved in and pushed marine air through the region. Another tip is to practise mindfulness so you understand why you feel anxious. If the fear of climate change becomes overwhelming, she said try making small changes to feel more in control. “We can’t single-handedly fix climate change,” she said, but suggested changes such as leaving the car at home one day a week. She noted that with climate change it’s important not to pass feelings of hopelessness or doom on to children in the home. When people stay indoors because of the air, they can become isolated, so she advised hanging out with friends or going somewhere you can exercise indoors. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content For those who would like some help dealing with the anxiety, there’s a government program for free cognitive therapy sessions with a coach called Bounce Back. What are the long-term health effects of breathing in this wildfire smoke? Angela Yao, a PhD student at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health says there is not enough research yet on the long-term effects of breathing in wildfire smoke over a short period of time, such as a couple of days or a week. “Wildfire is episodic and changes quickly over time so at least at this stage we don’t consider it a chronic exposure,” she said. Yao, who also works with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, said the centre is planning a long-term study to look at how babies in utero are affected during years of wildfire smoke. Dr. Sarah Henderson, the senior environmental health scientist at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, said a couple of weeks of exposure to wildfire smoke won’t have long-term effects on most people’s health. “People will be quite uncomfortable and maybe miserable during those two weeks but when the smoke clears their health should return to their normal everyday health,” Henderson said. “There are a few possible exceptions. One is anybody who has a chronic condition already and who suffers any kind of severe exasperation of that condition during the smoky period. Perhaps you have heart disease and you have a heart attack during the smoke episode that you would not have had if it wasn’t smoky, you are unlikely to recover your health again after the smoke clears because of that severe event.” Henderson says on smoky days the B.C. Centre for Disease Control expects to see a one to two per cent increase in strokes and heart attacks. “And that’s true of pollution from all sources, not just smoke … the human body is quite sensitive to air pollution,” she said. ticrawford@postmedia.com — With a file from Scott Brown Photo by Jeff Bassett / THE CANADIAN PRESS Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Vancouver Sun Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Vancouver Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. 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Send this page to someone via email The air quality remained quite poor in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley on Thursday morning because of smoke from wildfires. However, Global News meteorologist Mark Madryga says a transition to cleaner air has begun. “After a very murky day yesterday, probably the smokiest of the stretch here on the Lower Mainland, things will slowly thin out [on Thursday],” Madryga said. Madryga said despite thinning out a little in the afternoon, widespread smoke is expected to linger on Thursday. Story continues below advertisement What a change in the Air!! Much improved Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) readings this morning across the South Coast, particularly near the water where a "marine push" has brought much needed fresh Pacific Air. Inland locations will take a bit longer to improve. #BCstorm #BCwx pic.twitter.com/d1xWEeXDMI — ECCC Weather British Columbia (@ECCCWeatherBC) August 23, 2018 “We’ll look for more clearing of the smoke [Friday] and certainly into the weekend as cooler air floods in, a westerly flow. That’s good news. It’ll be accompanied by a chance of showers on the weekend, though.” The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for many communities on the coast has already improved. Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and a number of communities on Vancouver Island reported AQHI index readings of 10+, or “very high risk” on Wednesday. That has dropped to below four for most communities on the island, while Metro Vancouver is seeing lower, but still mixed readings. Madryga says the B.C. Interior will still be very smoky through the weekend because of the wildfires.