The smoke of Canadian forest fires continues to cover parts of the west medium and large plains, which leads to air quality alerts in several states.
More than 90 fires dispersed by Canada are burning outside control, according to the Canadian interagential forest fire center, a non -profit organization that supports the government’s forest fire response. Active fires in the Central Canadian province of Manitoba have forced approximately 17,000 people to evacuate.
The winds at the top of the atmosphere pushed that smoke to the upper west on Friday, and the feathers continued traveling southeast over the weekend, reaching the border of Georgia-Florida.
Some US states may experience poor air quality until Monday, which means that sensitive groups, such as pregnant people, newborns, older adults or those with respiratory or cardiac problems, should limit their time outdoors.
People in the affected areas can notice a smell of fire and a misty sky, as well as colorful sunrises and sunsets, according to the National Meteorological Service.
Minnesota has issued an air quality alert for the entire state until Monday night. It is expected that the northern state counties see the air quality that is considered unhealthy depending on the air quality index of the Environmental Protection Agency (AQI), which measures daily air pollution. Under these conditions, even people who are not part of a sensitive group may experience health effects such as itching on eyes, liquid noses, coughing or lack of breath.
Wisconsin issued a notice of air quality on Friday that expired the next day, but the State Natural Resources Department said another notice could be justified on Sunday afternoon. Northwest counties will probably see heavy smoke on Sunday night, said the department, and could migrate for the state on Monday. Many parts of Wisconsin could experience air quality that is not healthy for sensitive groups, with an even poorest air quality pocket in the northwest.
In parts of North Dakota, air quality currently meets the “very unhealthy” threshold of AQI, which means that all exposed have a higher risk of health effects. State officials have urged residents, particularly those with respiratory conditions, to consider limiting their outdoor activities if they are smoked where they live. Other ways to reduce exposure include closing windows, running inner air filters and using a N95 mask outside.
South Dakota also issued an air quality alert for certain areas that lasts until Sunday or until the conditions improve.
The smoke of forest fires can travel hundreds or thousands of miles, which represents health risks for people away from an active fire.
In 2023, the smoke of Canadian forest fires became the orange sky in the northeast of the US
Last year, a study found that people who inhaled smoke in New York and New Jersey were probably exposed to extremely large concentrations of fine particles, small particles in the air that can penetrate deeply into the lungs. Short -term exposure to these particles may increase the risk of cardiac arrest, asthma attacks or stroke, while long -term exposure may increase the risk of heart disease, lung cancer and chronic renal disease.
Forest fires become more frequent and intense due to climate change, along with other extreme climatic events such as hurricanes and heat waves.
When the smoke of Canada approached the west media during the weekend, the severe storms swept the southern coast and millions of people in the west were low heat alerts, with temperatures that rose more than 100 degrees.
