Canadian wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have prompted air quality alerts in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan on Wednesday and Thursday as residents are advised to “limit prolonged or heavy exertion.”
Why It Matters
The elevated levels of fine particulate matter resulting from wildfire smoke could present significant health risks, especially for people with asthma, heart disease or other preexisting respiratory conditions.
State and local health officials have urged those in the affected areas to limit outdoor activities and remain indoors while conditions persist.
Canadian wildfires have been of recent concern to Americans who live in bordering states, as hundreds of fires have burned this summer.
What To Know
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), all of Wisconsin and the majority of Minnesota and Michigan are under the air quality alert. The agency has a map on its website that lists regions directly impacted.
The NWS warns Wisconsin residents that “Northerly winds will continue transporting waves of heavy surface smoke from wildfires across Manitoba and Saskatchewan into Minnesota. Smoke will move south across all of Minnesota and linger through Saturday afternoon. The smoke will be reinforced by an area of high pressure that will create light winds and limit the dispersion of smoke.”
People with lung and heart diseases including asthma are asked to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion while the general public is advised to limit it.
“Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible,” the NWS says.
People are also advised to keep their windows closed overnight to avoid smoke drifting into their homes.
Earlier in the week, portions of New York including New York City were under a similar alert related to the wildfires.
Below are the states currently impacted by the plumes of Canadian wildfire smoke:
What People Are Saying
NWS Weather Prediction Center Meteorologist David Roth to Newsweek via phone on Wednesday: “Behind the cold front from where the wildfires are in Canada there is bound to be a smoke plume–it was a bit more expansive today. Conditions across the three states should improve from Thursday afternoon onward.”
Roth added, “Anyone who is sensitive to this should stay indoors and if outside they should wear a mask.”
What Happens Next
Further advisories may be issued if wildfires in Canada continue to burn and wind patterns bring additional smoke into the U.S. A new weather front is expected to move in next week, which meteorologists say could shift air quality concerns across the Midwest and Northeast.
If smoke persists, health agencies recommend continued vigilance and adherence to advisories on minimizing outdoor activity and monitoring local air quality.
