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Smoke from Canadian wildfires prompts warning

 

POLK COUNTY—The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality announced a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for Polk County and much of western North Carolina this week. 

A Code Orange warning means air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Older adults, younger children and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma should limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. 

The change in air quality is due to smoke from the continuing wildfires in Canada. A visible haze was noticeable in our area during the first part of the week.

“DAQ meteorologists continue to monitor the available data and will refine the air quality forecasts for tomorrow and the rest of the week ahead of releasing each daily forecast,” a DAQ announcement stated.