Canadian wildfire smoke expected to cause summer-long air quality issues

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Smoke from Canadian wildfires is flowing into North Dakota again, lowering air quality to unhealthy levels in western and central areas Tuesday. Canada has 224 active fires – nearly half out of control – with nearly 1,900 total fires burning 8.2 million acres this year. AccuWeather predicts “frequent rounds of milky and hazy sky conditions through the summer” with mostly moderate to extreme impacts for North Dakota through August. The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality advises limiting outdoor time, especially for those with respiratory conditions. While rain expected Friday through Sunday may temporarily help, above-average warmth and below-average rainfall this summer will increase smoke risks throughout the season.