Hazy fog descends over Dayton; air quality alert issued
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — As smoke from wildfires in Canada descends into the Miami Valley, local residents are feeling the difference in air quality.
An air quality alert was issued for several counties across the Miami Valley Tuesday, as Canadian wildfire smoke and high temperatures make the skies hazy across Dayton.
Canadian wildfires sending smoke into parts of Midwest, including Ohio
Local residents tell 2 NEWS the difference in air quality is noticeable, and for people with health issues that affect their lungs, this can create some serious breathing problems.
Courtney Hughes said he usually takes his dog for daily walks as part of his recovery program at Marathon Medical in Dayton.
'I usually bring her for an hour walk every day. I'll walk her from here to the bridge,' said Hughes. 'Today, the way the air quality is, it's hard to get a deep breath in. It feels like something's clogged up, every time I breathe in.'
Hughes says he has a hard time breathing when he goes outside on days with air quality alerts.
Storm Team 2 forecast: Warmer today, with more hazy sunshine and an Air Quality Alert
People like Hughes with lung illnesses, as well as older adults and young children, are at risk from pollutants in the hazy fog, which can be caused by pollen, broken down fire products and dust.
'The humidity and everything is heavy right now, so hard to breathe,' said David Glover, a Dayton resident.
Weather officials say that it is best to be informed about how your local area is being impacted by these kinds of alerts, adding that this is only the beginning of wildfire season. The Miami Valley could see more hazy skies and air quality alerts over the next several months.
Health experts say it is best to avoid being outside during peak hours of air pollution.
Air Quality Alert issued for June 3
Officials recommend coming out during the early morning hours and later evening hours when air quality tends to be improved, especially for groups that are easily impacted.
'Those more sensitive groups, the very young or the very old, they are going to experience a little more difficulty in getting around when the air quality gets like it is today,' said Dr. Roberto Colon, Premier Health's chief medical officer.
Experts recommend leaving activities like mowing the grass and filling up your gas tank until the hours when the sun begins to go down, or earlier in the day.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Iowa exits statewide air quality alert
Smoke from Canadian wildfires worsened air quality 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. 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 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. In Stoughton, Wisconsin, Nature's Garden Preschool was keeping its kids indoors Wednesday due to the bad air quality, which interferes with the daily routine, said assistant teacher Bailey Pollard. The smoke looked like a coming storm, he said. The 16 or 17 kids ages 12 weeks to 5 years old would typically be outdoors running or playing with water, balls and slides, but were instead inside doing crafts with Play-Doh or coloring. The situation was unfortunate because kids need to be outside and have fresh air and free play, Pollard said. 'It's something where we've got to take precaution for the kids,' he said. 'Nobody wants to stay inside all day.' 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. Unhealthy conditions persist in Midwest 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. Children's Minnesota, a network of pediatric clinics and hospitals in the Twin Cities area, has seen a 'modest increase' increase this week in patients with symptoms that doctors attributee to polluted air, Dr. Chase Shutak said. Their symptoms have included breathing problems, including asthma and other upper respiratory issues, said Shutak, who stays in close touch with other pediatricians in his role as medical director of the Minneapolis primary care clinic at Children's. 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. Conditions at ground level are in the red 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 , or 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. The air quality was considerably better Wednesday in Minnesota, where only the barest hint of haze obscured the downtown Minneapolis skyline. The city experienced some of the worst air in the country on Tuesday. But the air quality index, which had reached the mid-200 range, or 'very unhealthy' on Tuesday, was down to 60, or 'moderate,' by Wednesday afternoon. The Canadian fire situation even reaches Europe 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. 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 reported from Portland. Karnowski reported from Minneapolis. Associated Press writers Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan; and Scott McFetridge in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
St. Paul weighs consolidating some downtown offices at Osborn 370 building
The city of St. Paul plans to lease more than 10,000 square feet within the Osborn 370 building on Wabasha Street, covering the building's entire ninth floor, for eight years. What will that square footage be used for? Therein lies the question. The lease at 9 Fifth St. E., approved Wednesday by the St. Paul City Council, allows for flexible move-in dates and below-market rates, with the first 12 months rent-free. That gives the city some time to complete a 'space use' study with the help of real estate consultants, who will attempt to determine which city offices will make best use of the new floor and in what manner. It might become collaborative work space for the city to engage with private sector partners, or it may support departments with space shortages, such as the city attorney's office. It also may be used as upgraded space for staff committed to working downtown more than three days per week, said Bruce Engelbrekt, the city's real estate manager, addressing the city council on Wednesday. With many office staff on a hybrid work schedule, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter floated the idea last year of clearing out the downtown City Hall Annex building on Fourth Street and converting the property into residences, which remains a possibility. 'We're trying to think strategically about how to use our purchasing power and people power to help be part of the solution,' said Council President Rebecca Noecker. City offices are largely but not exclusively spread throughout the City Hall/Ramsey County Courthouse building at 15 West Kellogg Blvd. and the annex building directly across the street. The city's Department of Safety and Inspections works out of a building on Jackson Street, which is owned by Madison Equities, an embattled downtown property owner that has recently lost control of some of its buildings to foreclosure and receivership. The study likely will at least touch on library staff based at the downtown George Latimer Central Library. 'We have a question into (the consultants) whether the mayor's office and the city council offices should be part of the study, because of your need to be located in this building,' Engelbrekt said. 'We need to specifically look at those (offices) that have some space needs.' Council Member Cheniqua Johnson noted Osborn 370 has developed a positive reputation downtown, drawing notable tenants such as the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation. The Osborn 370 floor is partially furnished, allowing 'minimal up-front investment to move and establish operations,' according to the council resolution approved Wednesday. St. Paul's Maxfield Elementary breaks ground on 'community schoolyard' Ex-teacher of Hmong College Prep Academy in St. Paul sentenced for criminal sexual conduct with student Four candidates file for Ward 4 seat on the St. Paul City Council Canadian wildfire smoke causes 'very unhealthy' conditions in American Midwest and reaches Europe 40 St. Paul street lights stripped of copper wiring, though reports are down overall
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Milwaukee currently has the second worst air quality in the US, The New York Times says
Milwaukee is again experiencing some of the worst air quality in the U.S. from Canadian wildfire smoke on June 5, according to The New York Times. The city had the worst air quality in the country around noon EST on June 4, with an air quality index of 153, the Times reported. While Chicago has since topped the Times' list with an AQI of 161, Milwaukee claims the second spot. As of 11 a.m. EST on June 5, city has an air quality index of 139, the Times reported. Aurora, Colorado is experiencing the same index as Milwaukee. This AQI is considered "unhealthy for sensitive groups," according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standards. For indexes in this range, members of sensitive groups could experience negative health effects. The general population is "less likely" to be affected, according to As a result, an air quality advisory from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has been extended until noon on June 6, Air Management Outreach Coordinator Craig Czarnecki confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Czarnecki noted the scope of the advisory will be reduced and include the following counties in the eastern portion of the state: Brown, Door, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Milwaukee, Oconto, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha. The AQI for these areas will range from "moderate" to "unhealthy for sensitive groups," he said, adding air quality throughout "much of the rest of the state" has improved to the "moderate" level. More: Canadian wildfire smoke is still affecting Wisconsin. How to keep kids and pets safe with poor air quality The DNR has interactive air quality maps, which show the AQI and any active alerts or advisories by county. You can view them on the department's website. You can also type in your ZIP code into the website. For those interested in receiving alerts, you can sign up to receive air quality advisory notices through the DNR's website at More: Air quality map: View current air quality conditions in Milwaukee This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee has second worst air quality in US on June 5: NYT
