Wildfire smoke caused a filtered look to the sunset in central Nebraska, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Wildfire smoke filtering into the region has triggered an Air Quality Alert for area around the Tri-Cities and most of eastern Nebraska for Friday, Aug. 1.
According to the National Weather Service – Hastings, the alert will be active through 5 p.m. on Friday. The Air Quality Index notes that the quality is moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups.
“During Moderate (AQI yellow category) conditions, those who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion,” per NWS Hastings.
As of Friday morning, the AQI in Hastings was 147 and Grand Island was 105, both in the orange category. Kearney was at 85, in the yellow category.
“Alerts are based on data available from weather forecasts, smoke plume modeling, satellite imagery, and from air quality monitors located in Omaha, Bellevue, Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff,” NWS Hastings notes.
The smoke is originating from wildfires currently burning in the Canadian Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Alberta. Over 15 million acres have burned so far. This is the second-most active severe wildfire season in Canadian history since 2023.
