Wildfire smoke obscures a sunset in central Nebraska, (Brian Neben, Courtesy)
KEARNEY — The Tri-Cities area is experiencing moderate air quality on Tuesday, April 8 as smoke from northeastern Kansas moves into the region.
The Two Rivers Public Health Department has issued a smoke advisory for their district counties, Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney and Phelps.
According to the U.S. Air Quality Index, the AQI in Kearney was 91; Grand Island was 51 and Hastings was 63. Any AQI between 51 and 100 is considered “moderate.”
A moderate number means the air quality is acceptable to the general public. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
The air is being affected by smoke from controlled burns that are ongoing in the Flint Hills in Kansas. Steady winds from the south are helping to transport the smoke into the region.
These controlled burns usually take place during the spring. According to the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management site, 207,927 acres were burned from March 5 to March 30 last month.
