Smoky skies all week

UPDATE: 12:15 p.m.

The smoke across much of the province's Interior is expected to stick around until at least Friday, as a ridge of high pressure is trapping the smoke. 

"That ridge of high pressure acts as a lid, trapping wildfire smoke near the surface," said Lisa Erven, meteorologist with Environment Canada. "

"The smoke kind of migrates in and around the valleys based on the local wind direction."

She says the exact source of the smoke is hard to nail down, as smoke appears to be coming from fires in the North Okanagan, Okanagan Mountain Park, the Similkameen area, and even Washington State. 

On Friday, a cold front is forecast to move into the region, causing instability that may break up the layer of smoke. But it's not all good news. 

"There is concern that it could trigger some dry lightning, so that would be thunderstorms that are accompanied by little or no precipitation," Erven said. 

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ORIGINAL: 10:35 a.m.

The effects of wildfires burning throughout the province as well as Washington State have created a blanket of smoke that continues to hang over most of the province.

A special air quality statement has been reinstated for the Okanagan.

"All the fires in the area, all the fires in the province, all the fires in other provinces, it is a big accumulation of things," says fire information officer Nicolle Bonnett of the smokey conditions.

"Yesterday Environment Canada said that there was a fairly stagnant air mass sitting over most of the province. So, it is kind of packing this smoke down a little bit, and until we get some wind flow it really won't be going anywhere."

According to a fire behavioural specialist with BC Wildfire Service, the smoke is travelling up the valley from Washington State, collecting smoke from local fires along the way. 

There are currently eight "fires of note" in the Kamloops Fire Centre, with five of those burning in the North Okanagan. 

Air support through water tenders and helicopters continues to be a major resource used to suppress the fires. 

The BC Wildfire Service stated earlier this week that air support had broken a record.

"Yesterday (Monday) we broke a record for the most suppressant (water or water/foam mixture) dropped in one day. Twelve fixed-wing aircraft released over 1.5 million litres onto fires burning throughout the province."

Air support has been visible in the skies above Vernon.

Seven helicopters are being used to fight the Mabel Creek (200 ha.) and Harris Creek (260 ha.) wildfires. 

Apart from the air support, more than 50 fire personnel are battling the two fires along with heavy machinery from Tolko.  

The Proctor Road and Monte Lake wildfires are listed as 'being held,' on the BC Wildfire website, which means the fire is not expected to grow further.

Yesterday the Sugar Mountain wildfire (170 ha.) spread to the containment lines.

"This fire is located in an area where there are heavy fuels and closed canopies that can be challenging if there are flare-ups," said fire information officer Rosalie MacAulay. "Steep terrain is also an issue."

Today, it's expected the fire behaviour will increase and smoke will be visible. 

Castanet will continue to update the activity of the wildfires burning in the North Okanagan as it becomes available.