The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) are expecting smoke associated with Canadian wildfires to affect the air quality in Nebraska throughout the remainder of May.
Wildfire smoke can linger for extended periods of time depending on weather conditions. Nebraskans – especially those in sensitive groups – are encouraged to closely monitor the air quality and take steps to minimize exposure to smoke. Those in sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, pregnant women, and outdoor workers.
Periods of Moderate (yellow) to Unhealthy (red) Air Quality Index (AQI) impacts may occur throughout the state for the remainder of May. DHHS and NDEE will issue smoke advisories as conditions warrant. Community members can see these advisories through press releases and on the agencies’ official social media pages.
Nebraskans can use the airnow.gov website to monitor current air quality. AirNow uses the AQI to describe air quality and suggest actions individuals can take to protect their health: https://www.airnow.gov. The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map includes AQI conditions for particle pollution and smoke from fires: https://www.Fire.AirNow.gov.