A haze covers tall buildings in downtown Denver on Saturday, May 20.
David Zalubowski/AP
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David Zalubowski/AP
A haze covers tall buildings in downtown Denver on Saturday, May 20.
David Zalubowski/AP
Residents across parts of the northwestern United States are being warned about air quality this weekend after smoke from a series of wildfires in Canada drifted south across the border.
Thick plumes of smoke from fires in the Canadian province of Alberta spread to states including Montana, Colorado, Idaho and Utah.
But a wave of cold Pacific air moving into the region over the weekend is forecast to bring rain and wind that could push the smoke away.
Officials in Montana said Sunday that almost The entire state has been affected by wildfire smoke and issued air quality warnings for more than three dozen counties. Some areas have “very unhealthy” air quality.
National Weather Service Station in Glasgow, Mont.also called the air quality “very unhealthy” and urged people to limit going out, close windows and not burn any debris.
Parts of eastern Colorado were also affected, with metro areas of Denver and Colorado Springs seeing unhealthy air quality levels at points on Sunday.
The air quality advisory for wildfire smoke is in effect until at least 4 PM local time.
“If smoke is dense or becoming dense in your neighborhood, you may want to stay indoors,” the warning warns. “This is especially true for people with heart disease, respiratory disease, young children and the elderly.”
Conditions are expected to improve but some health impacts for residents, especially those at higher risk, are still possible through Sunday afternoon, Colorado officials said. know more.
Wyoming And Idaho also began seeing smoke from the wildfires on Friday and warned vulnerable residents to be careful.
Canadian fire officials issued issued a special statement on air quality for much of Alberta and said wildfires this year alone have burned more than two million acres, according to CBC.
