Air quality, hazy skies in KY from Canadian wildfires expected to improve soon
Smoke from Canadian wildfires has clouded Kentucky’s skies with a light haze and air quality that is poorer than normal for this time of year.
Widespread wildfires in Canada — 203 in all, including 102 considered “out of control” as of Wednesday — have especially affected Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, but much of the eastern U.S. and Midwest has been impacted too.
Lexington’s air quality has been moderate for three of the first four days of June, including on Wednesday, according to Airnow.gov, a website from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that provides information about air quality.
Before June, Lexington had registered only three days in the moderate category since May 5, according to Airnow.gov.
Air quality in the moderate category — the second of five levels —is generally considered acceptable, but some people are at risk for respiratory issues, especially those sensitive to air pollution.
Mark Jarvis, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Louisville, said the upper-level air pattern brought the Canadian wildfire smoke into the region last weekend.
However, most of the smoky air has been held in the upper levels of the atmosphere, which has kept the air quality level moderate.
“There has been some decrease in air quality, but it hasn’t been enough for us to put out an air quality alert through the Louisville Air Pollution Control District,” Jarvis said. “However, what it has done is made hazy skies in the afternoon and more colorful sunsets during the evening because of fine particulate matter in the air. That’s very normal.”
Changing weather patterns are now pushing the smoky air out of the region and more eastward from the original source, Jarvis said.
“When you look at the airflow patterns, the smoke is now not being directed into the U.S., but it’s being more directed across the eastern Canadian provinces like Ontario and Quebec,” Jarvis said.
Jarvis said weather patterns suggest it’s possible to get more wildfire smoke in the U.S. early next week, but the smoky air is not expected to go as far south as Kentucky. The areas in Canada that have been on fire are also projected to get rain near the end of the week, which would limit the amount of smoke in the atmosphere.
“We should have better air quality later today, especially over the next few days as we get this rain and cold front through the area,” Jarvis said Wednesday
There is a 70% chance of precipitation in Lexington Thursday, including showers and a possible thunderstorm after 2 p.m., according to the NWS’ seven-day forecast for Lexington. More potential showers and thunderstorms persist Friday and Saturday, and then the chance of precipitation drops to 20% on Sunday.
Severe weather is possible Friday, with the biggest threats being heavy rain, large hail and damaging winds, according to the NWS. The tornado threat for Friday’s storms is low, but the most at-risk area for a tornado would be southwest Kentucky.
More rounds of showers and thunderstorms are possible Monday, some of which could be strong, the NWS said.
