Air Quality Alert In NW Vermont, New York

Photo taken near my St. Albans, Vermont looking west
late this morning should include views of Lake Champlain
and the landscape on the New York side of the lake.
But wildfire smoke is obscuring the view. An air
quality alert is in effect for northwestern Vermont
and New York through this evening. 

 When I left for some appointments this morning, I noticed the air seemed awfully hazy this morning, with a hint of stale campfire smoke. 

It turns out smoke from Canadian wildfires is wafting toward the ground a little  more rather than staying overhead a ways  Pollution experts locally have noticed too. An air quality alert is now in effect for northwestern Vermont and northern New York. 

Wind patterns have concentrated the smoke in this area. Plus, forecasts of more and heavier rain south today will tend to clean the air somewhat south and east of Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties. 

The air quality alert goes until 11 pm. tonight, and I think the air problems will focus through the daylight hours today. If some rains drifts into northwest Vermont this afternoon - and it might. That will help some, but won't solve the problems.

They're advising us not to do much strenuous outdoor exercise. And if you're particularly sensitive to air pollution, especially the small particulates now floating around the in the air, stay inside. Preferably with air purifiers if possible. 

That goes for people with respiratory and heart problems. People who have asthma should follow their asthma action plan and have their quick relief medicine with them if they need to use it in a hurry.  

Fires continue to rage, mostly in central Canada. They will continue to belch smoke across large sections of Canada and the United States for the foreseeable future.