'Unhealthy' haze from Canadian fires expected to linger over Volusia at least another day

Northerly and northeasterly winds are pushing smoke from Canadian wildfires over Volusia County and Florida, creating unhealthy conditions for people sensitive to smoke, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Officials with the National Weather Service in Melbourne said Tuesday the smoky haze is expected to linger for at least another day.

An online interactive map of Florida from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection shows that the air quality reading in the Daytona Beach area Tuesday at one time was 166, making conditions unhealthy for sensitive groups. The measurement is far from 301 or more, which the DEP deems as hazardous to health.

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NWS meteorologist Scott Kelly said Tuesday they have not received any reports of people having health issues because of the haze in the Daytona Beach area or Volusia County.

"It does not mean it may not be happening but we have not had any reports," Kelly said.

On Tuesday, thin smoke was visible in the air along major highways in west and east Volusia County.

"The source of the smoke creating the haze is in northern Quebec in Canada," Kelly said.

Kelly added that over the course of a few days, winds brought the smoke creating hazy skies across Florida. The smoke blew in on Monday and remained all day Tuesday, he said.

"It will persist for another day or more," Kelly said.

The smoke is not affecting visibility for motorists on Volusia County's roads, Kelly said.

"Daytona is reporting eight miles visibility, and DeLand is reporting 10 miles, which is good," Kelly said.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Canadian wildfires smoke affecting Volusia County