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Newsweek
21 hours ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Alert Urging People to Check Themselves for Coughs Remains in One State
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Officials in Maine are urging people to monitor themselves for symptoms such as coughing as poor air quality persists across parts of the state on Monday from Canadian wildfires. National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Greg Cornwell, who works at the Gray, Maine, office, told Newsweek that the smoke might dissipate from Maine on Tuesday but looks like it will return by Tuesday night. Why It Matters Experts and public health authorities have pointed to the increased frequency and distribution of air quality alerts as evidence of persistent and growing challenges posed by air pollution in the United States. Nearly half of Americans currently live in areas receiving failing grades for particulate or ozone pollution, according to the American Lung Association's (ALA) "State of the Air" report. Over the past few weeks, wildfire smoke from Canada has descended into the U.S. and further worsened the air quality in some states. Among them, Maine has been on high alert, with residents advised to monitor themselves for symptoms if they are exposed to the polluted air. What to Know Smoke from Canadian wildfires significantly degraded air quality across large portions of the U.S. during the past week, leading to the issuance of air quality alerts in several states. These alerts specifically advised residents to monitor themselves for symptoms such as coughing, as exposure to wildfire smoke can trigger respiratory difficulties and, in some cases, increased risks for heart attacks and strokes, as Dr. Scott Budinger, chief of pulmonary and critical care at Northwestern University, previously told Newsweek. The most affected regions included the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and parts of the Northeast. At the height of the alerts, states such as Maine, Michigan, and Wisconsin were advised to be especially vigilant, with public health authorities urging individuals who develop symptoms like coughing, throat irritation, or shortness of breath to limit outdoor activity. The alert persists in Maine on Monday, with officials from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) highlighting risks for particularly sensitive populations, including children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions. The most recently issued air quality alert relayed by the NWS is in place for the cities of Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Kittery, Portland, Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, Westbrook, Yarmouth, Brunswick, Arrowsic, Bath, Phippsburg, Bowdoinham, Topsham, and Bowdoin. The affected areas expect to see PM2.5 levels—fine particulate pollution commonly associated with wildfire smoke—rising to the 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' range on the Air Quality Index on Monday. As of 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, air monitoring stations across Maine reported "Moderate" air quality. Health officials across multiple states instructed residents to closely observe their respiratory health during these periods of poor air quality. Recommendations included avoiding strenuous outdoor activity, keeping windows closed overnight, and using home air purifiers with high-efficiency filters. Alerts pointed to a particular danger for those with asthma or cardiovascular disease, with guidance for high-risk individuals to keep medications on hand and seek medical advice if symptoms persist or intensify. If someone experiences coughing as a symptom, Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a volunteer medical spokesperson with the American Lung Association (ALA), told Newsweek that they should see their doctor if the cough is accompanied by breathlessness or lasts for more than seven days. What People Are Saying National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Cornwell told Newsweek: "Tuesday during day will be more clear of smoke. By evening, that [upper-level low pressure system] will be pushing more smoke into the region heading into Tuesday night. It won't be quite as potent toward surface, which is good news for folks sensitive to that." Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos previously told Newsweek: "Your cough itself doesn't need emergent medical attention. However, if you're also experiencing breathlessness, talk to your doctor or seek more urgent care." NWS air quality alert for Maine: "The Maine Department of Environmental Protection recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, the elderly, those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma, those with heart disease and anyone who is working hard outdoors. It is okay to be active outdoors. But if you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, throat irritation or an uncomfortable sensation in your chest please consider limiting the intensity and duration of your outdoor activities." What Happens Next? The most recent air quality alert in Maine is expected to expire by midnight on Monday. However, it is possible more alerts will be issued depending on how weather trends affect the direction of the wildfire smoke this week.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Weekend storm bringing snow, sleet and freezing rain to southern Maine
Feb. 14—A winter storm lasting more than 24 hours this weekend is expected to deliver a sampling of everything to southern Maine: snow, sleet and freezing rain. "It's all one kind of system. It's a long-duration one," said Greg Cornwell, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Gray. The storm will start with snow Saturday evening before switching to freezing rain and sleet Sunday, he said. The forecast is less than clear about when the system will change from snow to freezing rain: "It gets a little muddy if warm air comes in, then sleet and freezing rain," Cornwell said. Everyone from those who have to shovel their driveways to children hoping to enjoy fresh snow on a holiday weekend will be watching how many inches of snow the storm will leave behind, but the weather system is likely to bring more than just fresh powder. "Accumulated sleet is kind of an odd thing to walk on and shovel," Cornwell said. "It's kind of granular and doesn't behave like snow packed down." "We're confident it's going to be an impactful winter storm for the region, but there are still details to be ironed out for snowfall or freezing rain," he added. The National Weather Service forecasts possible snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches Saturday night. Snow is expected to continue into Sunday afternoon, followed by sleet between 2 and 5 p.m., then freezing rain and more sleet. Snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 7 inches is possible. The totals are expected to be greater in northern and central Maine. The National Weather Service expects snow to spread across the region Saturday evening, with the potential for 8-12 inches across much of central Maine, including the Augusta and Lewiston areas. Parts of western Maine near Rangeley could see 10-16 inches. As of Friday, forecasters expect the storm in southern Maine to taper off late Sunday night and move north. "Far southern Maine will be out of consistent precipitation by midnight Sunday," Cornwell said. Monday, Presidents Day, is expected to be windy and blustery as the storm exits southern Maine. Unlike previous storms that brought light, fluffy snow easily shoveled out of the way, the coming storm will have more moisture, Cornwell said. This winter is shaping up to be more of a resurgence of normal weather after three years of milder, less snowy seasons. Before a storm Thursday that dropped between 10 and 12 inches of snow, Portland had nearly reached last year's total for the season. After Sunday, southern Maine is likely to be on pace for its snowiest winter since 2017-18, according to a meteorologist at the National Weather Service said. Copy the Story Link
