Canberrans can breathe easy as smoke haze that has clogged the air of the nation's capital since early-December looks to have finally abated.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Recent rainfall has helped to contain and extinguish bushfires across NSW and the Rural Fire Service is hopeful rain could stamp out more fires by the end of the week.
While the Orroral Valley fire and nearby fires in NSW are still burning the Bureau of Meteorology said it was unlikely heavy smoke haze from these fires would blanket the territory.
BOM meteorologist Shuang Wang said south-east winds were forecast for Wednesday and Thursday and that would bring moisture to the firegrounds.
"There's not much fire around... there is still some fire nearby but compared to before this week it is significantly different," she said.
None of the three air quality stations in the ACT have recorded an above hazardous rating since February 4.
READ MORE:
The reprieve will be welcome news for Canberrans who have dealt with hazardous air quality levels for more than two months.
Smoke haze descended on Canberra in late-November, in the same week the North Black Range and Currowan bushfires were ignited by lightning strikes.
Throughout December, air quality continued to worsen as multiple bushfires at the South Coast grew in size and ferocity.
Poor air quality peaked in Canberra on New Year's Day after the South Coast's worst fire day. The nation's capital recorded the worst air quality index rating of the world's major cities.
The Monash air quality station recorded a rating that was more than 25 times above hazardous levels.
The haze forced many of Canberra's institutions and offices to close in the first week of January.
Air quality improved in mid-January before it deteriorated again on January 23, when the Beard fire started.
Stations continued to record above hazardous ratings as the Orroral Valley fire burned out-of-control.