Wildfires in Canada and Minnesota spark warnings of poor air quality in U.S. Midwest and Northeast
Fires in Canada cause thick smoke minnesota The storm is expected to sweep across swaths of the U.S. Midwest and Northeast this week, exposing millions of people to dangerous air pollution.
Minnesota officials have issued an air quality alert from Tuesday through Friday, including in the Twin Cities metro area, alexandria Heavy smoke is expected to appear in the northeast corner of the state as the fires spread. Air quality levels in Two Harbors, the Grand Portage Tribal Nation and other areas of the Northeast minnesota Dangerous levels are expected to be reached and unsafe for everyone.
Dan Westervelt Associate Professor from Columbia University The Climate School said severe drought conditions combined with high temperatures in Canada and the U.S. created “a perfect storm for really dry conditions to provide a lot of the fuel to burn these wildfires.” Studies show that burning coal, oil and natural gas leads to higher temperatures, making fires more frequent and severe.
People are advised to stay indoors
People should stay indoors as much as possible to avoid extremely hotEspecially when smoke comes in, said Tyler Hasenstein, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
“Those two things happening at the same time are not a good thing from a health perspective,” he said.
michigan and Wisconsin Residents were warned Tuesday about air quality issues that could last for several days. High concentrations of fine particulate matter in the air caused by wildfire smoke can be unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as children and people with heart or lung disease.
In parts of Maine, residents reported yellow and brown skies. “There is a lot of smoke upstream, so expect a period of hazy skies the next day before a cold front moves in,” the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, said on social media Tuesday.
Issue air quality warnings
Hasenstein said that by Wednesday afternoon, intense smoke will spread to the East Coast and Midwest, including parts of the New England coast, northern Pennsylvania, Detroit and Milwaukee.
Several counties in western and central New York are under an air quality warning Wednesday through midnight. Hasenstein said the heaviest smoke could spread as far south as Washington, D.C., by noon Thursday.
Fine particle pollution from wildfires can cause shortness of breath, coughing, dizziness or fatigue, and exacerbate heart and lung disease and other chronic health problems. Experts recommend reducing or eliminating outdoor activities, wearing an N95 mask if you must go out, and keeping indoor air clean by closing windows and running an air purifier or air conditioner. Over the long term, exposure to fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke is one of the leading causes of premature death.
