Smoke from the Canadian wildfires in 2023 was low enough in the atmosphere to affect air quality. (George Hale / WFIU-WTIU)
Smoke from this week’s Canadian wildfires is expected to reach Indiana on Friday and remain throughout the weekend. Air quality could be impacted.
Multiple fires remain uncontained in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, provinces just north of Minnesota and North Dakota. Thousands have been ordered to evacuate, and wind is blowing the smoke south.
Read more: Fires impact IU’s Semester in Los Angeles program, but smoke won’t reach Indiana
Air quality alerts have already been issued in the entire state of Wisconsin and northern portions of Michigan and Minnesota. The National Weather Service reports sunsets and sunrises may appear more red with smoke in the air.
Cody Moore, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, said the smoke will cover all of Indiana by the end of the day, and remain high in the atmosphere. If it doesn’t descend, air quality should not deteriorate.
“With the clouds around, you might not even notice it at times, but it will make things pretty hazy,” Moore said. “It looks like it'll stick around through much of the weekend.”
Read more: Canada wildfires are burning. Why aren’t Hoosiers seeing as much smoke as last summer?
If the smoke becomes thick enough, Moore said it may move lower in the atmosphere and affect air quality. The current forecasts show the air quality in Indiana will be between good and moderate, but Moore said that could change.
“Those who are sensitive to any air pollution, those with any respiratory issues, should just take precautions with being outside, as this could potentially affect them,” he said. “For now, everything should be good.”
Moore said it’s not uncommon for wildfire smoke to reach Indiana. Smoke from Canadian wildfires in 2023 affected air quality across much of the country.
