Canadian Wildfire Smoke Tanks Air Quality
Smoke from Canadian wildfires infiltrated American cities this week. While it has made for some spectacular sunsets, the air quality has gone downhill. Many cities along the northern tier of the U.S. are reporting unhealthy levels of pollutants.
MPCA has issued Air Quality Alert for today valid through 9 PM tonight. Wildfire smoke has helped contribute gaseous pollutants to aid in ground-level ozone production in addition to very warm temperatures under hazy but mostly sunny skies. #AirQualityAlert #MNwx pic.twitter.com/rH4KxxZ39a
— MN Air Quality Index (@mpca_aqi) May 31, 2019
Two dozen fires burning in the Canadian Province of Alberta have forced thousands to evacuate from their homes. In fact, the majority of the smoke originates from massive fires out of northern Alberta, a western province in Canada.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires can still easily be seen on satellite today across the mid-west. #NEwx #KSwx pic.twitter.com/zZXpJMXfvc
— NWS Hastings (@NWSHastings) May 31, 2019
Recently, a blocking pattern that has sparked a string of severe weather across the United States has led to a prolonged stretch of dry weather for western Canada.
A significant pattern change over North America is anticipated into next week and this will lead to a cooler, wetter pattern for western Canada. This will help diminish the ongoing fires over the province and improve the air quality across the board.