Smoke associated with wildfires in the Western U.S. and Canada may affect the air quality in Nebraska.
An advisory of possible Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange) to Unhealthy (red) Air Quality Index (AQI) impacts may occur in the northern and central portions of Nebraska. These smoke impacts may affect the cities of Ainsworth, Alliance, Broken Bow, Chadron, O’Neill, Norfolk, South Sioux City, and Valentine.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI (Orange)
During Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI (orange category) conditions, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children. When conditions rise to the orange category, sensitive groups are advised to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion and avoid intense outdoor activities. Everyone else can remain active and adjust activity duration and intensity as needed.
Unhealthy AQI (Red)
During Unhealthy AQI (red category) conditions, some members of the general public may experience health effects and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children. When conditions rise to the red category, everyone is advised to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and those in sensitive groups should consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling.
Advisories are issued for areas of anticipated impact by notifying the media and local health departments and posting information on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy’s (NDEE) webpages and social media sites. These advisories provide information to the public on the anticipated impacts and air quality and health resources to help citizens protect their health and minimize exposure to smoke.
The state monitors smoke levels and weather conditions to determine when impacts to air quality are anticipated. Advisories are based on data from the National Weather Service (NWS), smoke plume modeling, and from ambient air quality monitors located in Omaha, Blair, Bellevue, Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff.
The following Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to describe air quality and suggest actions individuals can take to protect their health. This AQI is used nationally and is available in real-time for Nebraska by visiting https://www.airnow.gov. For AQI readings at individual ambient air monitors and sensors, please visit https://fire.airnow.gov.
For more information on smoke awareness, visit NDEE’s website at http://dee.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/OnWeb/AirSA.