Portions of U.S. seeing wildfire smoke from Northwestern Canada

Wildfires continue to rage across northwestern portions of Canada leading to large portions of the Great Plains and Midwest dealing with smoke drifting south.

Northwestern portions of Mid-Missouri including Macon, Chariton, and Saline counties are currently dealing with moderate smoke conditions while the rest of the region sees lighter levels of smoke this afternoon.

This smoke in conjunction with ozone has leading to slightly deteriorated levels of air quality with much of Mid-Missouri seeing good to moderate conditions leaving us in the green standards. Back to the east towards St. Louis conditions are a tad bit worse back to yellow air quality levels.

Long term worsened conditions caused by wildfire smoke can lead to increased chances of adverse health effects. Thankfully, Mid-Missouri has seen mostly good air quality conditions this year.

The lower-level jet stream currently depicts winds out of the northwest originating over Northwestern Canada. This is the cause for the smoke traveling into Mid-Missouri.

The lower-level jet stream looks to continue to support winds out of the northwest heading into Wednesday meaning wildfire smoke could still be brought overhead into our environment even through mid-week.