Tag: air quality

Categories
News News Blog News Feature

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Pushes Through Memphis, Triggers Air Quality Warnings

Riley Barker via Twitter

Air quality in Memphis “may be unhealthy to sensitive groups” Wednesday as smoke from Canadian wildfires continued to push through the Mid-South.

Millions in the U.S. have been impacted by the smoke. More than 400 wildfires are burning in eastern Canada, 150 of them in Quebec. While Canadian officials have evacuated some towns, health and safety agencies in the U.S. have signaled air quality alerts and issued warnings. 

An air quality warning was issued for the Memphis area late Tuesday, according to a tweet from the National Weather Service Memphis. The tweet said ozone concentrations climbed into “unhealthy concentrations” and asked resident to limit outdoor time. 

”We expect skies to remain hazy [Wednesday] as smoke plumes reach the Mid-South,” the weather service tweeted. “Our region is not use to prolonged wildfire smoke exposure, so remain health conscious. Itchy eyes, wheezing, or coughing  may signify the need for a high quality face mask. Stay safe Mid-South!”

That alert expired at sunset Tuesday. But the agency warned air quality might be unhealthy to sensitive groups throughWednesday.

 

Categories
News Blog News Feature

Wildfire Smoke Triggers Local Air Quality Alert

Credit: NASA

An air quality alert is on as smoke from wildfires entered Shelby County Tuesday.

Wildfires burning in California, Washington state, and Canada have brought similar air quality alerts to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New York City. 

(Credit: USDA Forest Service)

The Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) said air monitors registered an increase of particle pollution Tuesday morning. While officials here believe levels may increase through this afternoon and evening, they expect levels to remain in moderate, Code Yellow range.

Here’s the health department recommendation: 

“While the event is not expected to reach the Code Orange range, the health department recommends persons in highly sensitive groups that they may want to avoid prolonged exertion for the next 24 hours. 

“Sensitive groups include persons with lung and breathing conditions like asthma and COPD, those with heart conditions, and the elderly. Excessive particulate pollution due to the smoke could cause those sensitive individuals to experience health effects including shortness of breath, dizziness, coughing, headache, and feeling unwell. If those symptoms persist, they are advised to seek medical attention.

“This statement remains in effect through midnight tonight, but will be updated with the air quality forecast that will be released late this afternoon.”

Here’s a gallery of NASA satellite images of the smoke’s spread:

(Credit: NASA)