While flooding is top of mind after a historic volume of rain wreaked havoc on areas of Milwaukee and other parts of the state over the weekend, we have a Canadian wildfire smoke update.
After brief relief from the wildfire smoke, it's already on its way back to Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued an air quality advisory from 10 a.m. Aug. 11 through 3 p.m. Aug. 12 for northern and west central portions of the state, where the Air Quality Index is expected to reach "unhealthy for sensitive groups" to "unhealthy" levels.
"(The smoke has) got to come from the northwest since the source of all that smoke is, of course, up in northwest Canada," said Andrew Quigley, meteorologist for the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan. "It just takes a little bit of time for that to migrate down. So, it's getting into western and northwestern Wisconsin here today. And then, it'll start to at least get in the more central parts of the state, perhaps even southeast Wisconsin, by the time we get to that Tuesday/Wednesday timeframe. It's just going to be a question of: How impactful will it be?"
Here's why the smoke is returning to the state and what to know about the latest air quality advisory:
Why is the Canadian wildfire smoke returning to Wisconsin?
"It's been the summer of either: You feel like you're in Florida and you don't have the smoke. Or, we lose the humidity and you get the smoke," Quigley said.
Wisconsin is entering a change of weather patten, particularly during the first part of the week, according to the meteorologist.
"We're going to get some of this soupy air out, but more importantly, we're going to see our winds in the upper part of the atmosphere turn back out of the northwest," he said.
Those upper level winds tend to pick up the wildfire smoke and bring it into the western Great Lakes.
Which Wisconsin counties are under the latest air quality advisory?
Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Washburn, Waupaca, Waushara and Wood.
Where will the heaviest Canadian wildfire smoke be seen in Wisconsin this time around?
According to the latest air quality advisory from the state's DNR , the heaviest smoke impacts are expected in far northwest Wisconsin, where air quality could reach "unhealthy" values.
Areas further south and east that are under the advisory are expected to see lesser impacts, ranging from "moderate" to "unhealthy for sensitive groups."
How about the rest of Wisconsin?
"You can expect to see some decreases in overall air quality statewide," Quigley said. "Whether we kind of hit that threshold to the point where it's 'unhealthy' is a little bit more uncertain here, particularly in southern Wisconsin. Much more confident that the northern half of the state at some point early this week, if not today, is going to see those 'unhealthy' values."
How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?
Here are some ways to protect yourself from wildfire smoke, according to the state's DNR:
The best way to prevent breathing particles from wildfire smoke is to stay indoors.
Close windows and doors.
Run A/C on recirculate with a new high-efficiency filter.
Keep indoor air clean by:
Avoiding activities that increase indoor air pollution, such as vacuuming, burning candles, frying foods or using gas appliances.
Reducing airborne dust by using a damp cloth to dust the home and trap the particles rather than a dry cloth or duster that might make them airborne again.
Use an indoor air purifier.
Cancel outdoor events or move them indoors, especially for children.
Create a DIY temporary air filter.
In its latest air quality advisory, the state's DNR provided this additional guidance for members of sensitive groups:
Sensitive groups: Make outdoor activities shorter and less intense. It is OK to be active outdoors but take more breaks. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.
People with asthma: Follow your asthma action plan and keep quick relief medicine handy.
People with heart disease: Symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider.
When could Wisconsin see some relief from the Canadian wildfire smoke again?
"A cold front moving in from the northwest on Tuesday morning will begin to clear this initial round of smoke from northwest to southeast," the air quality advisory from the state's DNR said.
While more smoke could move in behind the front, the state's DNR does not expect it to warrant another air quality advisory at this time.
Where can I check Wisconsin's current air quality and find air quality forecasts?
Current air quality conditions and air quality forecasts can be found at airquality.wi.gov/home/map.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Canadian wildfire smoke returns to Wisconsin, air quality advisory issued
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