Most of Minnesota is under an air quality alert due to wildfire smoke from Canada. Minnesota’s Pollution Control Agency issued the alert Sunday, which includes Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Some northern states are waking up to hazy skies Tuesday due to smoke from wildfires across western Canada.
Dozens of large wildfires are burning, mostly in British Columbia and Alberta provinces. The toxic smoke from these massive wildfires has been released into the air and carried into the northern U.S., causing poor air quality in parts of the Midwest.
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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has issued an air quality alert for the northernmost four tiers of counties west of Interstate 35 and east of I-35 through 11 p.m. Tuesday.
Iowa air quality officials advise limiting outdoor activities and taking more breaks until conditions improve, especially for those with respiratory or heart disease, children, teenagers, the elderly and outdoor workers.
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The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said that some areas may experience minor reductions in visibility and deteriorated air quality due to surface smoke on Tuesday. However, air quality is expected to improve compared to Monday, as the smoke remains mostly aloft.
As the smoke shifted south Tuesday morning, Topeka, Kansas, had the worst air quality in America. Kansas City, Missouri, also ranked among the cities with the worst air quality.
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On Monday, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis–St. Paul in Minnesota claimed the worst air quality in America after winds carried the smoke southeastward into the northern U.S. The air quality forecast for Minneapolis is improving to “good” for Tuesday through the rest of the workweek.
The FOX Forecast Center said computer forecast models show the smoke hugging portions of the Midwest throughout Tuesday before an approaching cold front brings rain and clearer conditions starting Wednesday.
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Wildfires in western Canada force thousands from homes
The combination of warm temperatures and an ongoing drought have helped fuel several fires in western Canada, which has prompted thousands to leave their homes.
CANADA HAD NORTH AMERICA’S WORST AIR QUALITY IN 2023 BECAUSE OF WILDFIRES, REPORT SAYS
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One of the largest fires burning in the province of British Columbia is called the Parker Lake Wildfire. As of Tuesday, the blaze has burned more than 20,000 acres. The British Columbia Wildfire Service has identified the blaze as “out of control,” noting that it continues to spread and could breach the current control line.
Local authorities urged the entire town of Fort Nelson to evacuate and use as few vehicles as possible to conserve fuel in the region about 400 miles east of Juneau, Alaska.
Large wildfires are also burning in neighboring Alberta, where thick smoke and poor air quality have been experienced in large parts of the province.
An evacuation alert was issued for Fort McMurray in Alberta as crews respond to what they describe as an “out-of-control wildfire” southwest of town that has burned more than 16,200 acres as of the latest report.
Additionally, authorities are monitoring rekindled fires since the historic 2023 firestorm, which burned more than 45 million acres.
An El Niño regime caused extensive snowfall deficits across much of the country, potentially setting up regions for another record-breaking fire season.
The latest North America Drought Monitor showed nearly half of Canada is in drought conditions, with the driest regions being located in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.
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In 2023, hundreds of fires in Canada contributed to some U.S. cities seeing their worst air pollution of all time and creating an orange haze in hazardous conditions.