Air quality remains poor in Cleveland area as Canadian wildfire smoke lingers

CLEVELAND, Ohio — That campfire smell remains Thursday morning in the Cleveland area as smoke from the Canadian wildfires continues to have an adverse effect on the air quality in Northeast Ohio and throughout the state.

The Cleveland-Akron-Lorain region recorded an Air Quality Index level of 166 for fine particulates at 4 a.m., according to the federal Air Quality Index at AirNow.gov. That is considered unhealthy, but is an improvement over Wednesday morning, when the level was at 291 and considered very unhealthy.

It remains bad enough for the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency to extend an air quality advisory until midnight for Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties. The advisory again warns people to limit activities outdoors, especially people who already have breathing problems.

It’s even worse in other parts of the state. According to AirNow.gov, the air quality index level in the Canton/Massillon area was 247 as of 4 a.m., which is considered very unhealthy. Columbus was at 207, Cincinnati at 167, Youngstown at 152 and Toledo at 166.

A reading of 301 or higher is considered hazardous.

The forecast is calling for the air to remain at unhealthy levels in the Cleveland area today before improving to moderate by Friday.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service says sunshine is expected today and it will be warmer, with highs in the mid-80s. Winds will be relatively light at 7 mph.

Widespread haze is expected through midnight, but there are chances of showers and thunderstorms overnight and Friday morning, which could help clear the air, at least temporarily.

It’s all being caused by more than 200 wildfires burning across several provinces in Canada. CBS News reports the fires have forced thousands of people in Canada to evacuate and have been particularly devastating in eastern provinces like Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia.

CBS News reports that harsh weather conditions are making it difficult to combat the fires, which have burned about 19.5 million acres.

It’s not just Ohio being affected. NBC News reports 127 million Americans were under air quality alerts Wednesday night.

Meteorologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center tell the Associated Press that neither the wildfires nor the stuck weather pattern responsible for bringing the smoke down are showing signs of relenting for the next week or longer.

“As long as those fires keep burning up there, that’s going to be a problem for us,” prediction center forecast operations chief Greg Carbin tells the AP. “As long as there’s something to burn, there will be smoke we have to deal with.”

More coverage on cleveland.com:

When will Cleveland’s very unhealthy air quality improve?

Could Canadian wildfire smoke cancel Cleveland July 4 fireworks?

Skip your morning jog: Cleveland doctor says wildfire smoke is at harmful levels

Is wildfire smoke as bad for your pets as it is for you?

Cleveland issues health alert, NOACA an air quality advisory as smoke from Canadian wildfires returns