The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has re-extended its air quality alert, originally issued July 31, five times now as Canadian wildfire smoke continues to permeate the air.
The organization's latest update came Aug. 4, when it extended the alert for another 24 hours, until noon Aug. 5, at the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups and Unhealthy levels.
Here's what you need to know about the air quality:
When will air quality improve in Wisconsin?
The DNR's continuous extensions of the air quality alert shows the reality of the situation: It's unknown exactly how long the smoke will linger.
But National Weather Service Milwaukee-Sullivan meteorologist Denny VanCleve said high pressure slides could move the smoke east and out of the state in the next couple of days, starting Aug. 5.
When will wildfire smoke clear in Wisconsin?
Having affected Wisconsin for almost a week straight, the wildfire smoke could clear as early as Aug. 5, when high pressure slides may push the smoke east.
What is the air quality today?
Milwaukee's Air Quality Index score was 157 — classified as Unhealthy — at the time the Aug. 4 extension was announced. At that level, the general public may begin to experience health effects. The rest of the state is between the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups and Unhealthy levels.
As a precaution, the National Weather Service is advising people in sensitive groups — including children, older adults and people with lung or heart conditions like asthma — to avoid being outside. Other protective measures include keeping doors and windows closed and avoiding activities that increase indoor pollution, such as vacuuming, burning candles or using gas appliances.
As of 11 a.m., seven of the 10 places with the worst air quality in the country are Wisconsin counties, according to AirNow, a government agency that tracks Air Quality Indexes.
Waukesha and Jefferson counties are second in the United States with a score of 158, behind only Bozeman, Montana. Milwaukee and southern Ozaukee counties sit at No. 3 (157), followed by Vilas and Forest (157), Outagamie and Brown (156) and Dane, Columbia and Sauk counties (154). Northern Ozaukee and Sheboygan counties (153) and Dodge and Fond du Lac (152) are eighth and ninth.
Why is the air quality bad in Wisconsin today?
Smoke from the wildfires that have ravaged Canada much of this year has moved south across the border, affecting air quality in several parts of the midwest and northeastern U.S.
Canada is experiencing its second-worst wildfire season on record, with almost 4,000 fires already this calendar year, according to government data.
Where are the wildfires in Canada?
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported that more than 700 active fires were burning across Canada on Aug. 3, mostly in Manitoba, north of North Dakota and Minnesota.
The agency says more than 500 are burning out of control, forcing thousands of Canadians to evacuate their homes.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When will Wisconsin air quality improve? When will smoke clear?
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