Air quality impacts across Missouri from historic Canadian wildfires

Hazy skies have been all too common this summertime due to dry conditions and an unprecedented wildfire season. Generally this smoke has remained confined in the upper atmosphere, as it has to reach great heights to be transported across the continent. Still, this wildfire smoke has been coupled with extreme drought conditions locally, which also leads to pollutants building at the surface. Ozone is especially worrisome in summer when car exhausts lead to the buildup of smog in large urban areas.

Air quality has been by and large good in Mid-Missouri this summer, as the worst of the wildfire smoke has aimed for the northeast United States. But some recent days have seen moderate levels of air impact, even becoming unhealthy for sensitive individuals in large cities like St. Louis and Kansas City. Most of the general public is still good to head outdoors, but be sure to stay aware of the air quality forecast.