Strong thunderstorms developed in the central and eastern Fraser Valley Friday morning, bringing with them the chance of new wildfires.
1130 NewsRadio Meteorologist Michael Kuss says the storms have produced lightning strikes from Chilliwack up to Agassiz and near Harrison.
Kuss says that lightning was also detected near Chilliwack Lake.
“It’s been incredibly dry in that area, and as a result, the fire danger rating is high to extreme,” Kuss explained.
“There’s an incredibly high risk for lightning-caused fires to develop in the area today,” he added.
Kuss explains the unstable weather will linger into at least the early afternoon Friday.
Meanwhile, the Metro Vancouver Regional District says smoke from forest fires in Washington is drifting north over the border.
It says the air quality is currently sitting at “medium” or “moderate” — in other words, not bad enough to trigger an air quality advisory.
“Air quality advisories are issued when degraded regional air quality exceeds or is expected to exceed Metro Vancouver’s air quality objectives. Advisories contain information that describes the immediate issue, the impacts it may have, and what everyone can do to protect themselves and improve air quality,” the district’s website said.
Washington State’s Department of Natural Resources says it’s currently battling four fires it considers “large.”
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