Photo by Derek Redd Smoke from Canadian wildfires have led to a haze over the area that has made the air quality very unhealthy.

Wildfires from both Quebec and British Columbia have led to a “double-whammy” that the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh said has created very unhealthy air quality levels in the Wheeling area.

According to the federal government’s AirNow website, a permanent air quality sensor in Moundsville recorded the area’s air quality index at 208 as of 11 a.m. Wednesday. That leaves the area’s air quality at “very unhealthy” levels. With that, all people should limit outdoor physical activity and those in sensitive groups — senior citizens, young children and people with coronary or respiratory issues — should avoid outdoor activity altogether.

Lee Hendricks, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, said air quality should improve to the “unhealthy” range by tonight, but significant improvements won’t come until late Friday and early Saturday.

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