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.
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:
