Air quality drops due to wildfires

DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued an air quality warning across the state from Tuesday to Thursday morning, saying “thick smoke from Canadian wildfires” could prove hazardous to anyone getting active outdoors.

Forecasts from the Environmental Protection Agency June 3 and 4 showed levels of air pollution “moderate,” then “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in much of Southeast Iowa east of Ottumwa on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, and heavy smoke covered northwest Iowa on Tuesday morning, according to the DNR.

Canadian-run air quality monitor firesmoke.ca showed the worst of the pollution covering northwest Iowa Tuesday morning, before another bout of particulate blew from the state’s northeast corner down to its central southern and southwestern edges.

While Southeast Iowa avoided the worst of the air quality expected on Tuesday, its particulate levels were among the highest in the state by Wednesday afternoon, according to the EPA-run AirNow map, which said outdoor conditions were “unhealthy” in much of Johnson and Washington counties as of noon June 4.

“The worst stuff has stayed north throughout the day,” said Iowa DNR Air Quality Bureau Environmental Specialist Todd Russell, in an interview on Tuesday. “The western half of Iowa is still unhealthy for sensitive groups, but the eastern half of Iowa right now … is showing good air quality. It was expected to move further south throughout today and tonight.”

Russell said air pollution levels were notoriously difficult to model, comparing it to weather forecasts with a mind-boggling number of factors at play.

“Science tries to predict when that smoke will be brought down close to the ground, you don’t exactly know where the line’s going to be,” he said. “In your part of the state, it is significantly less now than was predicted. But it’s very possible that a cloud or a big blob of smoke might come through this evening.”

Also difficult to predict is whether Iowans can expect more air quality issues going into this summer.

Canadian wildfires in 2023 caused left Southeast Iowa with the worst air quality levels recognized by the EPA for several days at a time, clouding the skies and noticeably reducing visibility outdoors. Russell said it was anyone’s guess whether similar conditions might return this summer.

“It’s totally dependent on where the doggone jet stream is, whether the smoke in Canada is going to be pulled south, but we do have very, very big fires in three provinces right now,” he said. “Hopefully rain will put them out or the wind will be favorable and keep them away from Iowa, but at this point, it’s kind of a day-by-day deal.”

In its guide for outdoor activities, AirNow.gov says “unhealthy” conditions exist when the air quality index falls between 150 and 201, at which point officials suggest reduced outdoor activities whenever possible.

“The DNR recommends that people reduce long or intense activities, and take more breaks during outdoor activities until air quality conditions improve,” the Iowa DNR said in its press release. “This recommendation is especially pertinent to individuals with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, and outdoor workers. People in these categories should consider rescheduling or moving outdoor activities indoors.

The statewide air quality advisory expires Thursday, June 5 at 6 a.m., according to the DNR’s press release.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com