Cool, windy weather brings Canadian wildfire smoke and and an air quality alert to Iowa

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez, Des Moines Register
Updated ·2 min read
A runner makes his way through Water Works Park as a smoky haze surrounds downtown Des Moines on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The smoke from Canadian wildfires had drifted into the upper Midwest, prompting air quality warnings.

Central Iowans are finally getting a bit of cooler weather, sadly haze and smoky skies followed too.

The National Weather Service in Des Moines posted about cool weather and smoky skies on Twitter this morning, saying the smoke and haze are associated with Canadian wildfires, contributing to worsening air quality.

NWS Des Moines also said, "This cooler air has also been accompanied by a low status deck which will move across the state throughout the afternoon," along with a northwest breeze that is transferring upper level smoke from the wildfires.

Has an Iowa air quality alert been issued?

Iowa DNR issued an air quality alert Wednesday afternoon for fine particulate pollution, in effect for all counties in the western half of Iowa, through midnight on Friday. The alert extends past Interstate Highway 35 to include the Des Moines metro and counties just to the east like Marshall, Jasper and Marion.

Fine particulate levels near or above health standards are expected to remain high through Thursday, as smoke from the Canadian wildfires settles into the area, the Iowa DNR said.

The alert recommends reducing long or intense activities and taking more breaks during outdoor activities until air quality conditions improve. This is especially pertinent to those with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, and outdoor workers.

What is Des Moines' air quality?

The air quality index in Des Moines as of 3 p.m. Wednesday is 107 (orange), ranking unhealthy for sensitive groups. Conditions are worse in western Iowa with conditions in Sioux City and Council Bluffs ranking unhealthy (red).

Air quality map: Check current conditions near you

NWS Des Moines expects widespread haze to continue throughout tonight until around 4 a.m., but predicts a sunny day tomorrow.

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Why is the air quality bad? Iowa air quality alert says Canadian fires