Air Quality Unhealthy: Canadian Wildfire Smoke Permeates Through Iowa

A slight haze of smoke can be seen over the Mississippi in Downtown Burlington, all thanks to Canadian Wildfires.

A slight haze of smoke can be seen over the Mississippi in Downtown Burlington, all thanks to Canadian Wildfires.

You may have noticed a particular smell in the air today in Burlington, and you can thank our friends to the north for it.

Wildfires that have been raging in Canada and Alaska have managed to affect us down here in Iowa. David Cousins with the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities says that atmospheric conditions were just right for the smoky, ozoney smell to permeate throughout the state.

“The winds aloft have been from the North to the Northwest for most of the past few weeks which has drawn that smoky air southward, which has been making for some very colorful sunrises and sunsets,” Cousins told KBUR, “But last night, as the cold front moved through and high pressure started to build, some of that air aloft was forced to the surface, which is why you can smell that smoke.”

The smoke is actually visible near the riverfront in Burlington.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources lists the Air Quality Index at Unhealthy as of mid day for most of Eastern Iowa and West Central Illinois. Residents are urged to limit outdoor activity.

WQAD-TV in the Quad Cities reports that the smoke is much worse in that area. The Quad Cities metro area has the nation’s worst air quality index today.