Air quality warning in effect for Quesnel - May 4, 2026

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The Ministry of Environment and Parks in collaboration with the Northern Health Authority has issued an Air Quality Warning for Quesnel due to elevated coarse particulate matter.

Exposure to coarse particulate matter is particularly a concern for infants, older adults, individuals with chronic conditions (such as asthma, COPD, heart disease, and diabetes) or respiratory infections, and those who are pregnant.

Postpone or reduce strenuous outdoor activities until the warning has ended. Spend time indoors in a space with filtered air. Monitor your symptoms and seek prompt medical attention if needed.

Current conditions are expected to persist until weather conditions change and/or local emissions are reduced.

The next update will be on May 05, 2026 and posted to the province’s Air Quality Warnings webpage.

Visit the provincial air quality data webpage for real-time observations.

Actions you can take

Exposure to poor air quality can affect your health. Reduce the duration and intensity of outdoor activities. Spend time indoors in a space with filtered air.

Some people are more likely to be negatively impacted by outdoor air pollution. This includes people with lung and heart conditions, pregnant individuals, infants and young children, people aged 65 and older, and anyone whose health is affected by a chronic condition or an acute illness.

Follow your common sense

Stop or reduce your activity level if breathing becomes uncomfortable or you feel unwell.
Always carry any rescue medications with you.
Make sure that children and others who cannot care for themselves follow the same advice.

Monitor your symptoms

Different people have different responses to elevated levels of air contaminants.
Mild irritation and discomfort such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough are common, and usually disappear when the air contaminants return to typical levels.
More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough.
People with asthma or other chronic illness should follow any personal care plans designed with their family physicians.
If you are unsure whether you need medical care, call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1.
If you are experiencing difficulty in breathing, chest pain or discomfort, or a severe cough, contact your physician, walk-in clinic, or emergency department. If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

Tips to reduce your exposure to air pollution

Air contaminant levels may be elevated indoors, so stay aware of your symptoms even when you are indoors.
When indoors, keep windows and doors closed.
Protect your indoor air from outdoor air pollution. Use a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system and/or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles. Avoid models that generate ozone, as these can produce harmful ozone concentrations indoors. Do-it-yourself air cleaners may also be used if other options are unavailable. For more details, see the BC Centre of Control Do-it-yourself Air Cleaners fact sheet.
If you must be outside, a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to particulate matter. Even though exposure may be reduced, there can still be risks to health.
When in a vehicle, keep windows closed with air set to recirculate.

Emission reduction actions

Mandatory actions

Facilities with air discharge authorizations under the Environmental Management Act are required to follow trigger actions within their permit related to Air Quality Warnings and are encouraged to reduce any other emissions where possible.

Voluntary actions

Avoid driving on the road shoulder or other areas where road traction material has accumulated.
When cleaning driveways and parking lots, lightly wet the area before sweeping
Avoid using leaf blowers to clean up dirt during spring clean up.

More information

Current conditions

Coarse particulate matter refers to airborne solid or liquid droplets with diameters between 2.5 and 10 micrometers (μm). Together with fine particulate matter (airborne solid or liquid droplets with diameters of 2.5 μm or less), these particles are referred to as PM₁₀. Sources of PM₁₀ contributing to this air quality episode include road dust from the emission of winter traction material along busy and dry road surfaces. PM₁₀ can easily penetrate indoors because of their small size.

The current dusty conditions are caused by road traffic stirring up winter traction materials that have accumulated on roadways over the past winter.

The provincial air quality objective for PM₁₀ is 50 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m³), averaged over 24 hours. 24-hour average PM₁₀ concentrations are summarized below for Quesnel and nearest monitored communities at 10:00 AM local time today: