Thousands in Airdrie and Calgary woke up this morning to the smell of smoke, but it’s not because of any nearby fires.

According to Brian Proctor from Environment Canada, it’s actually the result of an inversion caused by the sudden shift in temperatures.

“It’s really concentrating any pollutants at a lower layer of the atmosphere and a less thick layer of the atmosphere. Anything that’s being emitted near the surface is really remaining near the surface at this point in time. If it was a little bit windier or if the atmosphere inversion wasn’t quite as strong as it was, those pollutants would vent through a further layer of the atmosphere and you wouldn’t see such a strong sort of smoky type of conditions.”

These pollutants, that Proctor refers to can range from car exhaust to industrial activity to homes using wood to heat their buildings.

A Rocky View business was also doing a controlled burn that morning, which added to the smoky smell.

As a result, the Air Quality Health Index is expected to reach 6 today which is in the moderate risk level. Thankfully, it should pass by tomorrow.

“We get a weather change in for Thursday which is going to really change things up nicely,” says Proctor, “We’ve got to get some mixing into the atmosphere and sort of turn over that boundary layer and vent more of those pollutants out to improve the air quality.”

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com