Reduced air quality and hazy skies have hung over parts of the midwest and northeastern US, caused by smoke drifting across the border from hundreds of wildfires in Canada, highlight National Public Radio (NPR).
According to government data, Canada is experiencing its second worst wildfire season on record, with almost 4,000 fires recorded already this calendar year.
Smoke coming across the border has affected air quality in several US states. This weekend, air quality reached concerning levels across Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota.
Parts of Illinois and Indiana are also under air quality alerts. People in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are also being advised to limit outdoor activity due to pollution from the smoke.
National Weather Service, Lead Forecaster Bob Oravec told NPR that the current wind patterns are once again driving the spread of polluted air into the US from Canada.
Oravec explained: “Air is moving at all levels and a lot of times it’ll move in the same direction through the whole depth of the atmosphere, so the smoke is rising into the winds and the winds just transport it downstream, like anything — like a leaf getting blown.”
Minnesota’s Pollution Control Agency extended its statewide air quality alert until noon on 4 August.
Minnesota Public Radio reports the state is currently under its longest air quality alert since the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency began issuing alerts in 2008. The alert is expected to last seven days in total.
Conditions started improving in some areas of Minnesota. The agency reported it expected the air quality index (AQI) to reach the most severe level of “red” for all of the state, which is considered unhealthy for everyone.
In a statement, the Pollution Control Agency warned that even healthy people may experience symptoms such as irritated eyes, coughing or shortness of breath. Others could feel more serious impacts, the agency said.
Pollution Control Agency shared: “Sensitive or more exposed individuals may experience more serious health effects, including worsening of existing heart or lung disease and respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, possibly leading to an asthma attack, heart attack or stroke.”
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources extended its air quality alert for several counties until noon on Monday 4 August, mostly in the southeast part of the state. Health officials in Michigan also extended the state’s alert in all counties through Monday.
Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center reported that more than 700 active fires were burning across Canada on Sunday, mostly in the southern province of Manitoba, directly to the north of Minnesota.
The agency says more than 500 are burning out of control. Thousands of Canadians have had to evacuate their homes to escape the fires.
Oravec says poor air quality could impact areas of the US for some time.
He continued: “It looks like that pattern maintains itself going forward through this week, so it doesn’t really appear to be any big break. There may be a day or so where there’s a temporary break to it, but overall it looks like there is potential for additional smoke to be transported southeastward into the United States.”
Air quality tracker IQAir ranked the air quality in Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis among the most polluted in the US.
The NPR has shared how smoke from wildfires in Canada have begun to hang over hung over parts of the midwest and northeastern US, leading to air quality concerns.
