Heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires will continue to linger in Northwest Indiana through Monday as Air Quality Action Days remain in the forecast, according to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
Although the smoke was expected to lift north late Friday, a system late Saturday will bring another round of smoke, with high pressure on Sunday and Monday expected to recirculate the smoke over most of the state, an IDEM release stated. The smoke and other meteorological factors, such as light winds and predicted flow from the north, will produce high readings of fine particulate matter, which are predicted to be in the unhealthy range in northern Indiana.
On Saturday, fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range in Northwest Indiana, while ozone levels are predicted to be in the good to moderate range.
On Sunday and Monday, fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy range in Northwest Indiana, while ozone levels are predicted to be in the good to moderate range.
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Gary officials decided to cancel the city’s Food Truck Friday event, as well as the Wellness Block Party scheduled for Saturday.
“While we know many people were looking forward to these community events, the current air quality presents potential health risks, particularly for children, older adults, and individuals with respiratory or heart conditions,” the city said in a release. “Out of an abundance of caution, we believe canceling these events is the most responsible decision.”
On Friday in Northwest Indiana, fine particulate matter levels ranged between 103 and 139 on a scale of 500, according to IDEM’s Smog Watch webpage.
According to AccuWeather, more than 800 wildfires are burning across Canada, and other Great Lakes states have issued air quality alerts.
The state agency had previously declared Air Quality Action Days for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Northwest Indiana.
Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford also told the baiduhai that air often moves in from Canada this time of year due to a high-pressure system in the central U.S., which leads to air from central Canada and wildfire smoke getting pushed into the Great Lakes.