Latest news with #smoke
CTV News
4 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
How air quality is measured when wildfire smoke rolls in
Wildfire smoke hangs over the Albert Street bridge in Regina on May 30, 2025. (CTV News Regina Skycam) With smoke from wildfires spreading throughout Saskatchewan, air quality statements and warnings have been and continue to be in effect for many parts of the province. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) measures air quality in several ways when determining if health risks are elevated prompting advisories to be put in effect. That includes when smoke from wildfires moves in. Meteorologist Danielle Desjardins says to simplify the process for the public, the weather office uses a scale called the air quality health index (AQHI) with a one to 10 scale. Anything from a one to a three on the scale means minimal health risks, four through six means moderate, and seven through 10 means high. Anything above 10 is rated as extreme. Desjardins said 10-plus readings have been and are expected to continue throughout the province. Fine particles represent the main health risk with wildfire smoke, ECCC says. Smoke from wildfires is a mix of gases, particles and water vapour that contain ozone, methane, sulfur and nitrogen dioxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, fine particle matter (PM 2.5) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), according to ECCC. 'When air quality gets poor, it's mainly due to something we call PM 2.5, particulate matter 2.5,' Desjardins said. The level of smoke or pollution in the air is then determined by a parts per million measurement. 'So, let's say that the PM 2.5 is 60. That means that out of a million molecules of dry air, 60 of those will be particulate matter 2.5,' Desjardins said. ECCC will issue air quality statements when the AQHI reaches moderate and high levels and warnings when it reaches extreme levels. As of Friday, the province said 16 wildfires are burning around Saskatchewan, seven of those are considered not contained. However, wildfire smoke can travel thousands of kilometres and fires from other provinces and the U.S. regularly bring smoky conditions to Saskatchewan. On Thursday, Premier Scott Moe declared a provincial wildfire state of emergency. A smoke forecast map can be seen here.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
La Ronge blanketed in smoke as wildfires rage across northern Saskatchewan
As wildfires burn across northern Saskatchewan, the community of La Ronge is blanketed in smoke — and grappling with fear and uncertainty. The area has been under an air quality warning for several days, and while no immediate evacuation orders have been issued, smoke and shifting winds have kept residents alert and anxious. "There's a lot of smoke," said Tammy Cook-Searson, chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. "It is starting to impact especially children who are asthmatic, or anybody with any compromised health issues." In response, the band has opened a fresh air shelter inside the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre (JRMCC). The arena, now equipped with large air scrubbers, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. to offer relief for anyone affected by the smoke. "We just want people to come in here if they want to breathe fresh air to get out of the smoke," said Arnold Mirasty, facility supervisor at JRMCC. "Then we'll serve them coffee, water, whatever we have." Mirasty said dozens of people showed up the morning after the shelter opened. "I had the purifiers running since yesterday. It's nice in here — and refreshing," he said. The shelter also provides food, drinks, seating areas and transportation support. Dr. John-Michael Stevens is a family physician who was working in Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay until a few days ago. He was forced to "leave suddenly" as fire approached the area. Stevens now works at a hospital in Deschambault Lake, where he has been treating patients — many of whom have been affected by wildfire smoke. "We've seen cardiac issues, respiratory issues, collapsed lungs, fractures, alcohol withdrawal and seizures," he said. "They're not all solely related to the smoke, but the smoke certainly doesn't help things." Stevens said the hospital in Pelican Narrows has also treated a number of high acuity cases for patients who have been affected by the smoke. Danielle Desjardins, a warning and preparedness meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, said the poor air quality can pose a high risk for people's health. WATCH | Wildfires continue to burn large sections of northern Saskatchewan: "You could get nauseous or have a sore throat, irritated eyes," Desjardins said. "If you are feeling a little bit sick, head indoors because you know you are putting yourself at risk being outside and inhaling that smoke." The smoky conditions are expected to continue, as a cold front moves through the southern part of the province, increasing the northwesterly winds, Desjardins said. She advises those in areas with poor air quality to stay indoors and limit strenuous outdoor activities. In response to rising social media concerns about wildfires, the La Ronge Regional Fire Department urged calm in a Thursday morning Facebook post. "There has been some commentary circulating online," the department posted. "At one point, someone insisted that we need to evacuate immediately, creating unnecessary panic. At this point there are no fires that pose an imminent risk." The post went on to say that smoke and highway closures are normal parts of northern wildfire seasons, and it encouraged people to stay calm and rely on trusted sources, such as the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline, for up-to-date road conditions. "This is something that we deal with every year," the fire department wrote. "Roads will close, roads will open. There will be smoky days and there will be days you can see large plumes of smoke in the distance. Some days ash will fall, some days it will be clear." While the community remains on edge, Cook-Searson is calling for more support. "We need to be able to train our own community members," she said. "We also need the proper equipment, so we're able to fight the fires effectively." With nearby highways facing road closures, including Highway 165 and Highway 102, Cook-Searson said contingency plans for potential evacuations are still not set due to difficulties in getting out of the area. "The only way out is by boat or by plane," the chief said. "We need help and more resources to be able to put those contingency plans in place."
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Weather Blog: Why hazy skies across Northwest Arkansas?
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — May 31 was a beautiful sunny day, but the sky was not blue. Here's why. You may have seen that the sky appeared washed out and hazy. This unusual appearance was caused by smoke from the Canadian wildfires, which had drifted into our region. As seen below, the smoke across our area was quite dense: The smoke originated from wildfires that are ongoing across Central Canada. The map below shows active fires in the Manitoba Region: The upper level flow is out of the North Northwest, which is why the smoke is reaching our area. A snapshot of the visible satellite from earlier this afternoon can be seen below: What other effects is the smoke having on us besides the haze? You might be wondering about the air quality. Check out the stats below: Earlier Saturday evening, air quality across Northwest Arkansas briefly dipped to 'Moderate' levels. By 9 p.m., conditions had improved back to 'Good.' The more hazardous air remains well north, across the Northern Plains. Looking ahead, changes in the jet stream are encouraging. Upper-level high pressure will begin moving in Sunday and will sit directly over our area by Monday, helping to keep thicker wildfire smoke to our east. By Tuesday, a southwest flow returns, clearing out any remaining smoke but also ushering in a more active weather pattern with multiple chances for rain and thunderstorms. Keep it here with Your Weather Authority for all the latest information. Click Here to Download our Weather Authority app Follow YOUR Weather Authority Team: On X, formerly known as Twitter: Dan Skoff Zach Gilday Josh Rugger Peyton Langford On Facebook: Meteorologist Dan Skoff Meteorologist Zach Gilday Josh Rugger Meteorologist Peyton Langford Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Canada wildfires shroud eastern US in orange, hazy skies
ATLANTA - A series of wildfires burning across central Canada sent smoke billowing into the U.S. on Saturday, with few signs that the blazes will subside anytime soon. The largest fires are burning in Manitoba, but due to prevailing wind patterns, plumes of smoke drifted southward, reaching as far as the Gulf Coast. Satellites captured stunning imagery as smoke appeared to embed itself around a storm system moving through the East. According to air quality readings across the Lower 48, the smoke was most hazardous across the Plains and the Upper Midwest, with moderate levels reaching as far south as Georgia and the Carolinas. Communities south of the U.S.-Canada border reported Air Quality Index (AQI) readings between 200 and 400 - levels which are considered to be unhealthy to even hazardous. A value between 0 and 50 on the AQI scale is considered "good," while anything over 301 reaches dangerous levels. What Does Code Red, Code Purple Air Quality Mean? Air quality alerts were issued for millions across the Upper Midwest, with authorities warning of additional waves of smoke for the foreseeable future. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency advised individuals with lung disease, asthma, heart conditions and other health concerns to limit their time outdoors. Officials also urged residents to ensure windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent smoke from infiltrating homes. Despite the high AQI readings and satellite imagery, most of the smoke remained elevated in the atmosphere, limiting ground-level impacts, at least for now. Across much of the country, the smoke primarily contributed to orange-tinted skies and reduced visibility for pilots. The scenes were a stark contrast to 2023, when smoke from Canadian wildfires settled over major cities along the Eastern Seaboard, pushing AQI readings into dangerous territory. That year, fires burned a record 45 million acres - a stark contrast to the less than 2 million acres consumed so far in 2025. A contingent of more than 150 U.S. firefighters has begun arriving in Canada, with additional resources expected to be deployed in the coming weeks. "We are here to help our neighbors during their time of need, and our Forest Service Wildland Firefighters are the best in the business. I am thankful for the men and women who are bravely stepping up to serve. We pray for their success as they fight fires and save lives," U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said in a statement. U.S. officials noted that while fire activity in Canada is roughly 40% above normal, fire conditions in the U.S. remain near average. Which Cities In Us Have Worst Air Quality? New Report Highlights Alarming Global Trends According to the latest North American Drought Monitor, only 7% of Canada is currently experiencing drought conditions, which is down significantly from around 40% during the same period in 2024. Canadian authorities do not expect drought conditions to worsen significantly in the short term, as a series of weak storm systems are forecast to bring scattered rain showers over the next week. However, any system capable of producing thunderstorms brings an additional threat - lightning, which can spark new fires that can kindle for days before article source: Canada wildfires shroud eastern US in orange, hazy skies
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Smoke descends on Albuquerque, where is it coming from?
May 31—Albuquerque and much of the Rio Grande Valley were blanketed in a haze of smoke on Saturday from south of the border. Meteorologists say an outflow boundary, described as a kind of "shockwave," from thunderstorms in Mexico on Friday carried the smoke 500 miles from wildfires in northwestern Chihuahua. Belen and Socorro felt some of the worst effects, with less than two miles of visibility, and health alerts were issued for Bernalillo County through Saturday. The National Weather Service expected the smoke to be gone by Sunday and said a lack of wind in the metro area was causing it to hang around longer than expected.
