KEARNEY — Nearly all of Nebraska is under an Air Quality Alert, while a Smoke Advisory has been issued for several counties in Western Nebraska.
Smoke associated with Canadian wildfires are affecting the air quality in Nebraska, prompting an Air Quality alert through 12 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7.
Denser smoke arrived in central Nebraska during the morning hours on Wednesday. Visibility could drop down to three to five miles.
The Smoke Advisory in Nebraska effects the western communities of Alliance, Chadron, Gering, Hyannis, Kimball, Ogallala, Sidney and surrounding areas.
The wildfires are mainly affecting the Northwest Territories and British Columbia in Canada. The nation is battling more than 1,000 active fires and nearly two-thirds of them are considered out of control.
Around 25 million acres had been burned as of mid-July.
Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record with tens of thousands of people being driven out of their homes and the federal government forced to deploy the military to several regions over the past months.
During Moderate AQI (Yellow category) conditions, those who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution may experience health effects. When conditions rise to the yellow category, those who are unusually sensitive are advised to consider shortening outdoor activities and reducing the intensity of these activities.
Symptoms such as coughing, or shortness of breath are signs to monitor.
During Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI (orange category) conditions, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children. When conditions rise to the orange category, sensitive groups are advised to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion and avoid intense outdoor activities.
During Unhealthy AQI (Red category) conditions, some members of the general public may experience health effects and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children. When conditions rise to the red category, everyone is advised to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and those in sensitive groups should consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires may affect the air quality in Nebraska. Smoke levels and wind directions are monitored by Nebraska and other states to predict when impacts to the air quality may occur.
Information regarding wildfires and impacts in Nebraska is available from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE).
Alerts are based on data available from weather forecasts, smoke plume modeling, satellite imagery, and from air quality monitors located in Omaha, Bellevue, Blair, Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff.
Advisories for smoke and air quality are issued for affected areas by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) and posted on agency webpages and social media sites.
By notifying the media and local health departments, alerts help citizens protect their health by informing them of days where outdoor activities should be reduced or avoided to minimize exposure to smoke.
