Smoke that has been billowing from wildfires in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories has led to a record number of smoke hours in southern Saskatchewan. 

While its health risks are well documented, the haze can also affect things like temperature and precipitation.

"It does tend to suppress daytime temperatures because it blocks the incoming short wave radiation from the sun, so it does tend to make our daytime highs cooler than they normally would be," said Environment Canada Meteorologist Terri Lang.

Lang said evidence points to the smoke not having as much of an impact on overnight low temperatures.

"It doesn't act like a cloud, so when the earth is reradiating long-wave radiation, it doesn't act like a cloud and trap it. So it doesn't seem to have an effect on overnight lows."

The smoke can also mitigate thunderstorm activity. Though Lang said that won't make much of a difference at this point, as we're past the time of year when we get the most storms.

Lang added that you should try to stay indoors when the Air Quality Health Index is at a seven or higher (indicating a high risk), even if you aren't part of the at-risk population.

She expects fires to continue to burn in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories throughout the fall while prevailing winds from the west continue to push the smoke into Saskatchewan.

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