logo
Smoky skies, overdose deaths, waterpark opens for season

Smoky skies, overdose deaths, waterpark opens for season

Yahoo5 days ago

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – It's a warm, sunny day in KELOLAND, though wildfire smoke still hangs in the air. Let's get a check on the latest in news and weather with KELOLAND On The Go.
A Sioux Falls teenager charged in a deadly car crash more than a year ago now wants his trial moved.
Defendant in deadly SF crash wants new trial location
Three recent overdose deaths are focusing renewed attention on the fentanyl problem in Sioux Falls.
Overdose deaths prompt response from Police Chief
We have new information about a Hot Springs man who had been missing for nearly a year.
Missing Hot Springs man's remains found
Highs will stay above average in the 70s and 80s with winds staying on the lighter side East River. While there will be plenty of sunshine, the blue skies will be covered with haze as Canadian wildfire smoke sinks southward.
Storm Center AM Update: Smoke and Warmth Hangs Around
The first waves of customers have also arrived at Wild Water West. The water park, west of Sioux Falls, held its official opening of the season Friday, following a soft-opening on Thursday.
Opening weekend at Wild Water West
For the latest in news and weather, use the KELOLAND News app.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Apocalyptic orange skies as Canada's wildfires rage
Apocalyptic orange skies as Canada's wildfires rage

Yahoo

time16 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Apocalyptic orange skies as Canada's wildfires rage

Skies turned orange over Northern Manitoba as wildfires continue to rage across the Canadian province. Eerie footage captured just outside The Pas on June 2 shows thick, choking haze descending over the town, with the sun vanishing behind walls of smoke. Renell Ross, 23, a local resident, said: "My sister and I were cooking when we noticed the sky gradually changing. "It became darker with a deep red hue, creating an increasingly ominous atmosphere." Ross prepared to flee but ultimately stayed, sealing the windows and switching off the AC to avoid the acrid smoke. Canada is grappling with over 200 active wildfires with more than half classified as "out of control," according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. These fires have scorched approximately 2 million hectares (4.9 million acres) of land, primarily in provinces such as Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Canadian wildfire smoke is back again. How bad will it get?
Canadian wildfire smoke is back again. How bad will it get?

USA Today

time42 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Canadian wildfire smoke is back again. How bad will it get?

In June 2023, a surreal glowing orange haze descended on New York City and across other East Coast locations as winds concentrated and redirected smoke from Canada wildfires. The smoke eventually lessened, but continued causing widespread unhealthy air quality in the United States throughout the spring and summer. There are signs that this summer could bring a similar problem, as June 2025 brings hazy skies and air quality concerns in some areas. The bad news: Smoke will likely be an ongoing health hazard across North America for the next few months. "Communities across both Canada and the United States should stay informed about air quality advisories and be prepared for potential health impacts related to smoke exposure," atmospheric scientist Djordje Romanic of McGill University told USA TODAY in an e-mail June 4. Some good news The circumstances that led to the smoky chaos of 2023 were unique. Canada didn't just break its wildfire records that year, it obliterated them. Nearly 58,000 square miles of the nation burned — an area about the size of Illinois — in more than 6,500 wildfires coast-to-coast from April to October, according to revised numbers from the Canadian Forest Service. And weather patterns acted in a complex dance to redirect that smoke to the United States. "Not at the same time, but one weather pattern would be succeeded by another weather pattern that were responsible for transporting smoke across Canada and the United States," Romanic said. 2025 looks smoky, but not that as smoky So far this year, wildfires in Canada have burned nearly 7,685 square miles, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. While that's about four times the average, it's still well below the 11,766 square miles that were scorched as of this date in 2023, which remains the nation's worst wildfire season on record. Romanic said the summer forecast by Environment and Climate Change Canada showed continued hot and dry conditions throughout this summer, particularly in northern Ontario and the western provinces. "We expect a hotter summer than normal," he said. "Such an environment is likely to sustain an above-average fire season, though it may not reach the scale of 2023." What weather pushes Canadian smoke into the US? Some of the weather patterns that transport smoke from Canada to the United States include northwesterly winds behind cold fronts that pass over Canada and move into the United States, Romanic said. Also, high-pressure systems (ridges and anticyclones) over central and eastern North America can trap smoke close to the ground due to the large-scale subsidence (sinking) associated with them, he added. In addition, he said that at higher altitudes, if the smoke rises there, certain jet stream alignments can transport smoke particles from Canada to the United States. A tricky science As for what's going to happen with smoke this summer, Christy Climenhaga, a scientist from Environment and Climate Change Canada told USA TODAY June 5 that "smoke forecasting is a tricky science." She said it depends on a number of factors, including the location of both the source fires and the end location, how big the fires are, along with the weather patterns in place at the time. In 2023, a predominant large-scale jet-stream pattern featured a large ridge in the western United States and Canada, and a trough across the East. This allowed the fires to burn under hot, dry skies and the smoke from the fires to funnel into the eastern US. "It can get stuck in this persistent pattern for a while," she said. With a smoky summer forecast across Canada this year, this pattern could again spread smoke downstream into the U.S. throughout the summer. Contributing: Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press

Canadian wildfire smoke is still affecting Wisconsin. How to keep kids and pets safe with poor air quality
Canadian wildfire smoke is still affecting Wisconsin. How to keep kids and pets safe with poor air quality

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Canadian wildfire smoke is still affecting Wisconsin. How to keep kids and pets safe with poor air quality

Like much of the Midwest, Wisconsin's air quality is still seeing effects from Canadian wildfire smoke, with Milwaukee experiencing some of the worst air quality in the nation. In fact, Milwaukee had the worst air quality in the U.S. on June 4 with an air quality index of 153, The New York Times reported. While Chicago has since topped the Times' list, Milwaukee remains in second with an AQI of 136. This AQI is considered "unhealthy for sensitive groups," according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standards. An air quality advisory from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources remains in effect until noon on June 5. The National Weather Service also said in a post on X that healthy residents should consider spending limited time outdoors. While wildfire smoke can negatively impact anyone, children and pets are some of the more vulnerable groups. As the poor air quality continues throughout the state, here's what experts recommend you should do to keep them safe: Wildfire smoke is a "complex mixture" of pollutants shown to cause a range of health effects, according to the EPA. These effects can be "relatively minor," like eye irritation, to more serious, including premature death, the agency says. Children are "especially vulnerable," since their lungs are still developing, the EPA says. Aside from physical health effects, the agency notes children may also experience stress and mental health problems from wildfires. More: Milwaukee has the worst air quality in the US right now, according to The New York Times Like humans, animals can be negatively impacted by poor air quality, says. Those with heart or lung disease and older pets are "especially at risk" and should be closely monitored when air quality is poor. Children aged 2 and older can wear masks and respirators, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, masks approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health aren't made to fit young children, the CDC says. So, you should choose a mask or respirator that fits your child comfortably. The agency also notes certain face coverings, like surgical masks or breathing through a wet cloth, will not protect kids. According to the CDC, there are several steps you should take prior to the risk of wildfire smoke inhalation, including: Stock up on medication if evacuation may be necessary. Buy groceries you won't have to cook. Talk to your child's healthcare provider, especially if they have a chronic health condition. Once wildfire smoke hits, here's how the CDC says you can keep protecting your kids: Check air quality reports. Check school closings. Limit time outdoors. Keep windows and doors closed. Use an HVAC system with air filter. Use a portable air filter, if available. Consider evacuating if your child is experiencing breathing problems or other symptoms from smoke inhalation that do not improve. Seek medical attention immediately if they are having trouble breathing, is "very sleepy" or will not eat and drink. You should have "high efficiency filters" before fire season starts and consider creating a "clean room" with a portable air cleaner, recommends. Here are some tips from for keeping your pets safe once wildfire smoke begins: Keep pets indoors as much as possible. Bring outdoor pets into rooms with good ventiliation. Keep indoor air clean by avoiding certain activities, like vacuuming or burning candles. Limit time outdoors and physical activity. Include pets in any evacuation planning, if necessary. If your animal is showing any of the following symptoms, recommends contacting your veterinarian: Coughing Gagging Red or watery eyes Nasal discharge,inflammation of throat or mouth Reluctant to eat hard foods Trouble breathing, includes open-mouth breathing and if they're making more noise when breathing Fast breathing Fatigue, weakness or disorientation Reduced appetite Reduced thirst 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 sign up for air quality advisory notices through the DNR's website at More: Canadian wildfire smoke could affect Wisconsin all summer. Here's how to track air quality This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Canadian wildfire smoke: Keep kids, pets safe when air quality is poor

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store