Wildfire Smoke Due To Return To MD This Week, MDE Warns

MARYLAND — Skies over the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., region could yet again be filled with thick smoke from Canadian wildfires this week, according to the latest air quality forecast, making air unhealthy for residents with some health conditions.

Smoke is expected to drift across much of the Northeast and Great Lakes on Wednesday, blanketing Maryland on Thursday, according to the U.S. Air Quality index.

The Maryland Department of the Environment issued an Orange Alert for Wednesday and Thursday, predicting air quality indexes of 127 and 124, respectively, on those days. At those levels, the air quality is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. An API of 50 or below is considered safe.

Smoke from the more than 300 wildfires burning in Canada is expected to continue to slowly move east and south. Some of the smoke may cross the Appalachians and head eastward by late Tuesday, according to the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang.

With an expected API of 93 on Friday, officials issued a Yellow Alert for that day, meaning that air quality presented a moderate risk to people who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution. For everyone else, it would be a good day to be active outside.

To check your location's current air quality, visit here: airnow.gov.

The AQI scale is as follows:

• Good/green: 0-50
• Moderate/yellow: 51-100
• Unhealthy for sensitive groups/orange: 101-150
• Unhealthy/red: 151-200
• Very unhealthy/purple: 201-300
• Hazardous/maroon: 301-500

Organizations who run outdoor activities or have outdoor workforces should begin planning now for potential changes to activity on Wednesday, June 28.

On unhealthy air days, authorities suggest these health precautions:

• Children and older adults should reduce outdoor activities.
• Healthy individuals should limit strenuous work or exercise, especially outdoors.
• Individuals with respiratory and heart ailments, emphysema, asthma, or chronic bronchitis should limit their activity level. If breathing becomes difficult, move indoors.

Residents can check current air quality conditions on COG's website or by downloading a free air quality app from Clean Air Partners.

On unhealthy air days, residents are encouraged to take steps to help reduce pollution:

• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use and follow tips from your electric utility about how to use less electricity to cool your home.
• Avoid lawn mowing or use an electric mower.
• Use transit, carpool, or work from home to limit driving. Fill up your gas tank during evening hours.

Visit the Maryland Department of the Environment for more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles.