Canadian wildfires continue to impact Delaware's air quality on Tuesday, increased AQI
Lasting effects of the Canadian wildfires lead to decreased air quality in Delaware early Tuesday morning.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) reports that light southwesterly winds throughout the day will continue to transport dense smoke from Canadian wildfires into Delaware, keeping particle levels elevated.
Periods of sunshine early in the day and temperatures in the low 90s will support ozone development and scattered afternoon and evening showers will aid low-level mixing.
DNREC predicts AQI levels will be high-moderate for PM2.5 and ozone. PM 2.5 is defined as fine, inhalable particles or droplets in the air with diameters of 2.5 micrometers and smaller.
What is the air quality today?
DNREC’s forecast shows the overall ozone value for Tuesday as 93 and the overall PM 2.5 value as 99, both classified as moderate in the yellow zone.
The yellow zone ranges from 51 to 100 and is acceptable, but there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
The interactive air quality map listed on DNREC’s website — created by AirNow, a government-run air-quality monitoring website — shows New Castle County as being in the yellow and orange zones and Kent and Sussex Counties remaining in the green zone as of Tuesday morning, categorized as air quality being satisfactory and air pollution posing little or no risk.
At 8:30 a.m., the AQI for greater New Castle County was recorded as 120 for PM 2.5, in the orange zone; 29 for Kent County, in the green zone; 35 for Sussex County, in the green zone; and 73 for the Wilmington area, in the yellow zone.
The orange areas in New Castle County are Hockessin, Pike Creek, North Star, Newark, Fairfield, McClellandville, College Park and Brookside.
Orange is defined as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and ranges from 101 to 150. Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects but the general public is less likely to be affected.
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Air quality forecast
DNREC reports that winds will limit dispersion and gradually transport additional smoke into Delaware on Wednesday. Temperatures in the high 80s and mostly sunny skies through midday will aid ozone production.
Afternoon thunderstorms will reduce ozone formation, but AQI levels are anticipated to be high-moderate for PM 2.5 and ozone.
According to AirNow, the values for greater New Castle County will decrease throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, while the values for Kent County, Sussex County, and the Wilmington area will increase.
On Thursday, DNREC predicts increasing clouds and thunderstorms will inhibit ozone formation in Delaware.
Light and variable winds will reduce pollutant dispersion, allowing smoke to linger across the state. These conditions are expected to result in high-moderate AQI levels for PM 2.5 and mid-moderate AQI levels for ozone.
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Canadian wildfires cause degraded air quality in Delaware Tuesday
