Wildfires still burn but we're not seeing smoke like last year. Here's why
LANSING — Smoke from western wildfires is expected to settle over Greater Lansing soon, potentially making it more difficult for some people in the area to breathe.
But meteorologists say there's no reason for alarm in Greater Lansing, and any breathing problems from wildfire smoke shouldn't be as bad as it was last summer.
Cort Scholten, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, said wildfire smoke is lingering over the Greater Lansing area Wednesday through the weekend, and that smoke could vanish and reappear for the rest of the summer.
For now, this year's smoke is less concerning than last year's Canadian wildfires, because the smoke is much higher in the atmosphere, Scholten said.
"This smoke is usually going to be at 5,000 to 15,000 feet above ground by the time it gets to us," he said.
The smoke still could affect air quality numbers, Scholten said.
Last summer, Greater Lansing residents were urged to stay indoors on a few days because state officials issued Air Quality Action Days.
The smoke then affected most of the state's population, including central and southern parts of the Lower Peninsula with more than 2.5 parts per million of fine particulates in the air.
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Nationally, there continue to be worries about fires and air quality this year.
Scholten said this year's smoke is coming from the Western U.S. as well as Canada but far less from Quebec, which last summer contributed to Michigan's smoky haze that, at some times, caused some of the worst air quality in the nation.
More: Air quality in Michigan: Track wildfires and smoke with these maps
Michigan's Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Department issued warnings last year for the first time. There are no warnings in place currently.
Jim Haywood, a meteorologist with EGLE, said there is a lot of hype in media about the wildfire smoke this year.
"In reality, what we are seeing is pretty normal for us, this time of year," he said, agreeing that this year's smoke is higher in the atmosphere. "So the only effect we should see is almost a gray overcast type of sky even though there are no clouds."
There's potential, he said, for more colorful sunrises and sunsets as the clouds clear out this weekend.
"But ground level particulates should not be impacted and we're actually looking at pretty clean air for the next few days," he said.
The Greater Lansing area is currently considered in good condition, although it was in the low end of moderate conditions earlier on Wednesday. Check the latest conditions at AirNow.gov, which is forecasting good conditions through Saturday, which is as far as the forecast goes.
The smoke may be observable as a hazy milky white tint to the sky instead of a normal bright blue, Scholten said. Sunsets and sunrises are the best time to notice the smoke, with hazy or more orange-looking light filtered through the smoke.
The temperature is expected to drop a bit Thursday, which should give a little more of a break in the smoke, Scholten said.
That could mean a slight rebound in the smoke Friday when temperatures come back, he said.
"But it is not like last year," he said.
Contact Mike Ellis at mllis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Wildfires still burn but we're not seeing smoke like last year. Here's why
