Latest news with #JoeStrus
Chicago Tribune
04-08-2025
- Climate
- Chicago Tribune
Smoke from Canadian wildfires brings unhealthy air to large swaths of the Midwest
Smoke from Canadian wildfires hovered over several Midwestern states Saturday, bringing warnings of unhealthy air for at least the third day. Air quality alerts were in effect in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as eastern Nebraska and parts of Indiana and Illinois. Forecasters said the smoky skies would remain for much of the day. Canadian environmental officials said smoke from the forest fires would persist into Sunday for some areas. The Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir, which assesses air quality in real time, listed the city of Minneapolis as having some of the worst air pollution in the world since Friday. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was expected to reach the red or unhealthy category in a large swath of Minnesota. AQI is a system used to communicate how much air pollution is in the air. It breaks pollution down into six categories and colors, along with advice on what is and is not safe to do. They range from 'good' (the color green) to 'hazardous' (maroon). People with lung disease, heart disease, children, older adults and pregnant women are most susceptible to the poor breathing conditions. 'What's been unique in this go-around is that we've had this prolonged stretch of smoke particulates towards the surface, so that's where we've really had the air quality in the red here for the past few days,' said Joe Strus, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area in Minnesota. 'We've sort of been dealing with this, day in and day out, where you walk outside and you can taste the smoke, you can smell it,' Strus said. 'Sometimes we've been in higher concentrations than others. Other times it's just looked a little hazy out there.' The air was improving Saturday, he said, specifically across the Twin Cities and southwestern Minnesota, but state health officials warned that conditions could remain unhealthy for sensitive groups through Monday. Officials said the smoke could spread as far south as Tennessee and Missouri. The EPA's Air Quality Index converts all pollutant levels into a single number. The lower the number, the better. Anything below 50 is classified as 'healthy.' Fifty to 100 is 'moderate' while 100-150 is unhealthy for 'sensitive groups.' Anything above 150 is bad for everyone. Parts of Minnesota exceeded that number on Saturday. Health officials advise people with asthma and other lung disease, heart disease, children and older adults to avoid prolonged exposure to smoke and limit strenuous activities. They said to avoid burning things that could make the air pollution worse and to keep windows and doors closed. 'This is something that's become part of our summer here the last few years,' Strus said, 'and I think a lot of us are just looking forward to seeing a little more movement in the atmospheric winds and we'll be able to hopefully disperse some of the smoke out of here in the next few days.'
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Business Standard
03-08-2025
- Climate
- Business Standard
Canadian wildfire smoke chokes Midwest, sparks air quality concerns
Smoke from Canadian wildfires hovered over several Midwestern states Saturday, bringing warnings of unhealthy air for at least the third day. Air quality alerts were in effect in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as eastern Nebraska and parts of Indiana and Illinois. Forecasters said the smoky skies would remain for much of the day. Canadian environmental officials said smoke from the forest fires would persist into Sunday for some areas. The Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir, which assesses air quality in real time, listed the city of Minneapolis as having some of the worst air pollution in the world since Friday. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was expected to reach the red or unhealthy category in a large swath of Minnesota. AQI is a system used to communicate how much air pollution is in the air. It breaks pollution down into six categories and colours, along with advice on what is and is not safe to do. They range from good (the colour green) to hazardous (maroon). People with lung disease, heart disease, children, older adults and pregnant women are most susceptible to the poor breathing conditions. What's been unique in this go-around is that we've had this prolonged stretch of smoke particulates towards the surface, so that's where we've really had the air quality in the red here for the past few days, said Joe Strus, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the MinneapolisSaint Paul area in Minnesota. We've sort of been dealing with this, day in and day out, where you walk outside and you can taste the smoke, you can smell it, Strus said. Sometimes we've been in higher concentrations than others. Other times it's just looked a little hazy out there. The air was improving Saturday, he said, specifically across the Twin Cities and southwestern Minnesota, but state health officials warned that conditions could remain unhealthy for sensitive groups through Monday. Officials said the smoke could spread as far south as Tennessee and Missouri. The EPA's Air Quality Index converts all pollutant levels into a single number. The lower the number, the better. Anything below 50 is classified as healthy. Fifty to 100 is moderate while 100-150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Anything above 150 is bad for everyone. Parts of Minnesota exceeded that number on Saturday. Health officials advise people with asthma and other lung diseases, heart disease, children and older adults to avoid prolonged exposure to smoke and limit strenuous activities. They said to avoid burning things that could make the air pollution worse and to keep windows and doors closed. This is something that's become part of our summer here the last few years, Strus said, and I think a lot of us are just looking forward to seeing a little more movement in the atmospheric winds and we'll be able to hopefully disperse some of the smoke out of here in the next few days.
Al Jazeera
02-08-2025
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Canadian wildfire smoke triggers air quality alerts in US
Smoke from wildfires burning in Canada has triggered air quality alerts over the border in the United States. Several blazes continued to rage across Canada on Saturday, sending smoke wafting over several states in the US Midwest and bringing warnings of unhealthy air for at least the third day. Air quality alerts were in effect in the US states of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as eastern Nebraska and parts of Indiana and Illinois. Conditions were especially dire in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir reporting that the US city had some of the worst air pollution in the world since Friday. The Air Quality Index (AQI), a system used to communicate how much pollution is in the air, is expected to reach the red or unhealthy category in a large swath of Minnesota, and will likely remain so through Saturday. 'We've sort of been dealing with this, day in and day out, where you walk outside and you can taste the smoke, you can smell it,' said Joe Strus, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. Forecasters warned that smoky skies would remain across the Midwest for much of Saturday, but could start to dissipate before spreading as far south as Tennessee and Missouri. The poor air quality poses particular risks for people with lung and heart conditions, as well as children, the elderly and pregnant women. This is not the first time that Canadian wildfires have prompted air quality alerts in the US and further afield. In 2023, a record early wildfire season sent smoke across the Atlantic into northern Europe. On Saturday, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported 'out-of-control' blazes in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, as well as in Yukon and the Northwest Territories. The centre said that 717 fires were active across the country. Environment Canada also said 'extremely high' levels of air pollution were present in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and the Northwest Territories, according to a report by The Canadian Press news agency. Areas in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec were also under air-quality watch, though risks to health were reportedly lower. Environment Canada said reduced visibility and poor air quality would persist into Sunday.
02-08-2025
- Climate
Canada wildfire smoke brings unhealthy air to large swaths of the Midwest
Smoke from Canadian wildfires hovered over several Midwestern states Saturday, bringing warnings of unhealthy air for at least the third day. Air quality alerts were in effect in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as eastern Nebraska and parts of Indiana and Illinois. Forecasters said the smoky skies would remain for much of the day. People with lung disease, heart disease, children, older adults and pregnant women are most susceptible to the poor breathing conditions. Canadian environmental officials said smoke from forest fires that was causing reduced visibility and poor quality would persist into Sunday for some areas. The Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir, which assesses air quality in real time, listed the city of Minneapolis as having some of the worst air pollution in the world since Friday. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the red or unhealthy category in a large swath of Minnesota and will likely remain through Saturday. AQI is a system used to communicate how much air pollution is in the air. It breaks pollution down into six categories and colors, and advice on what isn't safe to do. They range from 'good' (the color green) to 'hazardous' (maroon). 'What's been unique in this go-around is that we've had this prolonged stretch of smoke particulates towards the surface, so that's where we've really had the air quality in the red here for the past few days," said Joe Strus, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area in Minnesota. 'We've sort of been dealing with this, day in and day out, where you walk outside and you can taste the smoke, you can smell it," he said. "Sometimes we've been in higher concentrations than others. Other times it's just looked a little hazy out there.' The air quality on Saturday was improving, specifically across the Twin Cities and southwestern Minnesota, he said, but state health officials warned the air could remain unhealthy for sensitive groups through Monday. The smoke could start to dissipate Saturday before spreading as far south as Tennessee and Missouri. The EPA's Air Quality Index converts all pollutant levels into a single number. The lower the number, the better. Anything below 50 is classified as 'healthy.' Fifty to 100 is 'moderate' while 100-150 is unhealthy for 'sensitive groups." Anything above 150 is bad for everyone. Parts of Minnesota exceeded that number on Saturday. Health officials advise people with asthma and other lung disease, heart disease, children and older adults to avoid prolonged exposure to smoke and limit strenuous activities. They said to avoid burning things that could make the air pollution worse, and keep windows and doors closed to keep the smoke from getting inside. 'This is something that's become part of our summer here the last few years," said Strus, "and I think a lot of us are just looking forward to seeing a little more movement in the atmospheric winds and we'll be able to hopefully disperse some of the smoke out of here in the next few days.' ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP's environmental coverage, visit
CBS News
28-04-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
How to stay safe ahead of heightened severe weather threat
A look at how you can stay safe during dangerous Minnesota storms A look at how you can stay safe during dangerous Minnesota storms A look at how you can stay safe during dangerous Minnesota storms At the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen, Minnesota on Sunday, it is all hands on deck ahead of ideal conditions for severe weather across much of the state. "Things are going to evolve pretty quickly tomorrow," said Joe Strus, meteorologist at the National Weather Service Twin Cities. "This is not necessarily rare that we're talking about severe weather this time of the year, but when you look at some of the pieces coming together with the atmosphere tomorrow, it does suggest that we're talking about a higher end type day, and that in itself is a bit more rare for us in the upper Midwest." We're talking possible damaging winds, hail, even tornadoes, as storms chances increase beginning Sunday night to Monday. "There is a scenario tomorrow, where we could be talking about EF-2 plus type tornadoes," said Strus. It means turning on Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), even a NOAA weather radio from your local pharmacy will do the trick. "Have the conversation with your family. If we get a warning issued tomorrow, tornado warnings issued for our area, where do we go," said Strus. If conditions take a turn, take shelter in your basement away from windows. What if you live in an apartment and you don't have that option? "Lowest level of the complex, certainly a better call than staying in your unit a little bit higher up," said Strus. If you're on the road during a tornado: "what do I do if I'm driving, I'm on say 94 right, and I'm in an area where there's not a lot around, and there's a tornado, pull over. We encourage folks to get down in a ditch," said Strus. All in all, Strus said, don't let your fears get the best of you. "Use that fear, put it into motion, put a plan in place, and know that tomorrow is a day to know where to go, if and when severe weather knocks on your door," said Strus.
