Canadian wildfires prompt new air quality alert in Stark County; relief coming
The smoky haze has returned to Stark County.
And so has the air quality alert prompting officials to warn those sensitive to poor air quality to stay indoors.
The culprit − like it has been so far this summer − is the wildfires in Canada.
Canton Health Commissioner Jim Adams issued another air quality alert for Stark County on Monday and said the situation is expected to continue for at least the next 24 hours.
He advised those with heart or lung diseases, children and older adults to limit their outdoor activities and to avoid strenuous outdoor activities altogether. Those not in the high-risk groups also should consider limiting outdoor exposure, he said.
Fact check: Smoke in US result of Canadian wildfires, not geoengineering
The National Weather Service says relief could come as early as Monday afternoon as a cold front pushes across the region dissipating the smoke that has created hazy skies and fog-like conditions and in some instances the smell of smoke.
The front could spark some severe thunderstorms and showers late Monday afternoon and evening with high wind and hail possible.
Where are the wildfires in Canada?
See where the wildfires are still burning in Canada using the NASA-FIRMS wildfire map.
Wildfire smoke map for Ohio
This map tracks the latest wildfires, red flag warnings, and smoke from wildfires. You can look at just Ohio or zoom out to look at the country.
Air Quality Index for Ohio
You can see the current conditions by using this interactive map here.
MORPC uses the national Air Quality Index scale, which runs from 0 to 500, to measure ozone and particle pollution. When levels reach above 100, air quality is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, and an air quality alert is issued.
As of 9 a.m., every quadrant of Stark County was listed at 154 on the index.
What's the forecast for northern Ohio?
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. Widespread haze before noon. High near 83. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
Monday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. West wind 5 to 8 mph.
Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Friday: A chance of showers after 8 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Canton Repository staff writer Kelli Weir and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Stark County's air quality 'unhealthy' due to Canada wildfires
