Smoke from Canadian wildfires is expected to cast a haze on Ross County
CHILLICOTHE ― Smoke from wildfires burning in Canada is expected to diminish air quality and create a fog in the skies in parts of the United States this week. And this might affect Ross County as well.
There are currently 174 wildfires happening in Canada, many of which are out of control, according to Natural Resources Canada. Thousands of residents have been evacuated throughout the country.
More: Smoke from Canadian wildfires worsens air quality in Dakotas, Midwestern states
The wildfires are sending smoke down into the U.S. that will affect air quality in many parts of Ohio.
In Ross County, the current air quality is moderate on June 2, with the amount of ozone in the air climbing in the next two days, according to Airnow.gov.
According to a map from GoErie the smoke density in the area is at a medium.
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Ross County might be hit by smoke from Canadian wildfires
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Los Angeles Times
31 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Air quality worsens in eastern U.S. as Canadian wildfire smoke hangs over Midwest
PORTLAND, Maine — Smoke from Canadian wildfires started making air quality worse in the eastern U.S. on Wednesday as several Midwestern states battled conditions deemed unhealthy by the federal government. The fires have forced thousands of Canadians to flee their homes and sent smoke as far as Europe. In the U.S., smoke lingered on the skylines of cities from Kansas City to Minneapolis, and a swath of the region had unhealthy air quality Wednesday, according to an Environmental Protection Agency map. Iowa issued a statewide air quality alert through early Thursday, urging residents to limit certain outdoor activities and warning of possible health effects due to the thick smoke. Wisconsin officials made similar suggestions as the smoke drifted southeast across the state. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, authorities advised people shut windows at night, avoid strenuous activity outside and watch for breathing issues. Parts of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York had areas of moderate air quality concern, and officials advised sensitive people to consider reducing outdoor activity. New Hampshire authorities hoped conditions would improve by late Wednesday. 'The particle air pollution event is the result of extensive wildfires in central and western Canada,' the state's Department of Environmental Services said. 'Wind patterns are forecasted to transport plumes of smoke from these fires across much of New England and New Hampshire.' The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an alert for almost the entire state into Wednesday, but the Twin Cities area got the region's worst of it Tuesday. 'As the smoke continues to move across the state Tuesday, air quality will slowly improve from northwest to southeast for the remainder of the alert area,' the agency said. 'The smoke is expected to leave the state by Wednesday at noon.' The Iowa Department of Natural Resources warned that air quality in a band from the state's southwest corner to the northeast could fall into the unhealthy category through Thursday morning. The agency recommended that people — especially those with heart and lung disease — avoid long or intense activities and to take extra breaks during strenuous activity outdoors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow map showed a swath of red for 'unhealthy' conditions across Wisconsin and northern Iowa. Conditions in northern Michigan also reflected many unhealthy zones. The Air Quality Index was around 160 in many parts of the upper Midwest, indicating poor conditions. The Air Quality Index — AQI — measures how clean or polluted the air is, indicating which health effects might be experienced within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. It is based on ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Particulates are the main issue from the fires. The index ranges from green, indicating satisfactory air quality that poses little or no risk, to maroon, which is considered hazardous. That level comes with health warnings of emergency conditions which are more likely to affect everyone. There were areas of reduced air quality all over the U.S. on Wednesday, with numerous advisories about moderate air quality concerns as far from the fires as Kansas and Georgia. Canada is having another bad wildfire season. Most of the smoke reaching the American Midwest has been coming from fires northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg in Manitoba. Canada's worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023 and choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months. This season's Canadian wildfires are so large and intense that the smoke is even reaching Europe, where it is causing hazy skies but isn't expected to affect surface-air quality, according to the European climate service Copernicus. The smoke over western Europe is expected to keep moving eastward, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. It's causing hazy skies, but not expected to affect surface-air quality. However, it could rise high enough to be carried that far, indicating the immense size and intensity of the fires, according to Copernicus. Whittle and Karnowski write for the Associated Press. Karnowski reported from Minneapolis. AP writers Jack Dura in Bismarck, N.D.; Kathy McCormack in Concord, N.H.; Tammy Webber in Fenton, Mich.; and Scott McFetridge in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.
an hour ago
Air quality worsens in eastern US as Canadian wildfire smoke hangs over Midwest
PORTLAND, Maine -- Smoke from Canadian wildfires started making air quality worse in the eastern U.S. on Wednesday as several Midwestern states battled conditions deemed unhealthy by the federal government. The fires have forced thousands of Canadians to flee their homes and sent smoke as far as Europe. In the U.S., the Midwest is bearing the brunt. Smoke lingered on the skylines of cities from Kansas City to Minneapolis, and a swath of the region had unhealthy air quality Wednesday, according to an Environmental Protection Agency map. Iowa issued a statewide air quality alert through early Thursday, urging residents to limit certain outdoor activities and warning of possible health effects due to the thick smoke. Wisconsin officials made similar suggestions as the smoke drifted southeast across the state. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, authorities advised people shut windows at night, avoid strenuous activity outside and watch for breathing issues. Parts of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York had areas of moderate air quality concern, and officials advised sensitive people to consider reducing outdoor activity. New Hampshire authorities hoped conditions would improve by late Wednesday. 'The particle air pollution event is the result of extensive wildfires in central and western Canada,' the state's Department of Environmental Services said. 'Wind patterns are forecasted to transport plumes of smoke from these fires across much of New England and New Hampshire.' The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an alert for almost the entire state into Wednesday, but the Twin Cities area got the worst of it in the Midwest on Tuesday. 'As the smoke continues to move across the state Tuesday, air quality will slowly improve from northwest to southeast for the remainder of the alert area,' the agency said. 'The smoke is expected to leave the state by Wednesday at noon.' The Iowa Department of Natural Resources warned that air quality in a band from the state's southwest corner to the northeast could fall into the unhealthy category through Thursday morning. The agency recommended that people, especially those with heart and lung disease, avoid long or intense activities and to take extra breaks while doing strenuous actions outdoors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow map showed a swath of red for 'unhealthy' conditions across Wisconsin and northern Iowa. Northern Michigan was also the site of many unhealthy zones, the agency said. The Air Quality Index was around 160 in many parts of the upper Midwest, indicating unhealthy conditions. The Air Quality Index — AQI — measures how clean or polluted the air is, focusing on health effects that might be experienced within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. It is based on ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Particulates are the main issue from the fires The index ranges from green, where the air quality is satisfactory and air pollution poses little or no risk, to maroon, which is considered hazardous. That level comes with health warnings of emergency conditions where everyone is more likely to be affected, according to AirNow. There were areas of reduced air quality all over the U.S. on Wednesday, with numerous advisories about moderate air quality concerns as far away as Kansas and Georgia. Canada is having another bad wildfire season. Most of the smoke reaching the American Midwest has been coming from fires northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg in Manitoba. Canada's worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months. Canada's wildfires are so large and intense that the smoke is even reaching Europe, where it is causing hazy skies but isn't expected to affect surface-air quality, according the European climate service Copernicus. ___
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Canadian wildfire smoke is fouling U.S. air quality. We show where.
Canadian wildfire smoke is fouling U.S. air quality. We show where. Smoke from Canadian wildfires is engulfing much of the eastern and central United States and will last through the week. The wildfires are releasing large amounts of smoke into the atmosphere. Over the Great Plains, the high-level flow of winds has been pushing the smoke south, and shifting upper-level winds from the west will drag the smoke over the eastern states, according to The Weather Channel. Where Canadian smoke blankets the U.S. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. Is climate change worsening Canadian wildfires? Some Canadian officials say climate change is playing a part in the blazes. 'It is a simple fact that Canada is experiencing the impacts of climate change, including more frequent and more extreme wildfires,' Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said in a CTV News report. Higher temperatures are leading to drier conditions, which makes it easier for forest fires to start. Erratic winds allow the fires to spread, CTV said. How wildfire smoke can travel thousands of miles Wildfire smoke worsens air quality Wildfire smoke has been fouling U.S. air quality for several days, starting in states bordering Canada, including the Dakotas, Minnesota and other Midwestern states. The smoke has drifted south and east, creating moderate air quality levels for a large swath of central and southeastern states, according to By the morning of June 3, air quality in Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida, was at a moderate level. How wildfire smoke can endanger your health Inhaling smoke can result in a variety of ailments, from minor irritability to more serious problems like respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. According to the EPA, particulate matter, also known as PM 2.5, is a main component of wildfire smoke and is the air pollutant of greatest concern to public health. The fine particles are inhaled and enter your lungs and bloodstream where they can cause damage to other organs. Exposure has been linked to a higher risk of lung cancer, heart attacks, strokes and brain damage. If the air quality becomes unhealthy, avoid physical exertion, including indoors. While inside, keep windows and doors shut. Leave off any air conditioning or fan systems that pull air from outside, and use air filters or air purifiers. You can monitor air quality in your area at More: U.S and Canada wildfire and smoke tracker. See air quality warnings near you. More: Which states will see smoke from Canadian wildfires? EPA issues air quality warnings. CONTRIBUTING Jeanine Santucci and Chad Murphy, USA TODAY Network SOURCE The Air Quality Index, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NASA, NOAA This story was updated to add new information.
