The cold front that pushed through last weekend and gave us uncommonly mild temperatures to start the week brought something else with it.
Air quality has been unpleasant the last two days, with particulate matter readings in the 100-160 range just Monday after the cold front changed the air flow from out of the south to out of the northwest. Given the destructive fires in the Pacific Northwest, National Weather Service meteorologist Kyle Poage says this was really no surprise.
The InciWeb Incident Information System website is tracking large grass fires across a dozen western states, with several active fires burning over 20,000 acres and a handful burning over 100,000 acres. The particulate readings rival those from the late winter and early spring, when the Flint Hills grass fire season is in effect.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says smoke particles can cause a range of health problems, from burning eyes and runny nose to bronchitis. People with pre-existing heart or lung conditions may have worse symptoms, as could the children and elderly.
KDHE says:
*Healthy people should limit or avoid strenuous outdoor activities
*People with respiratory or heart-related illnesses, whether related to COVID-19 or not, should remain indoors.
*Residents can keep their indoor clean by closing down doors and windows and by running air conditioners with air filters
*Everybody should drink lots of water
*Residents with symptoms like chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or severe fatigue should call their doctors
More information about air quality is online at https://fire.airnow.gov or www.inciweb.nwcg.gov.
