Story by Mike Nolting and Marsha Chwalik
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Parts of northern and eastern West Virginia are experiencing air quality issues from the Canadian wildfires.
The Monongalia County Health Department reported a worsening air quality index Friday.
“This is actual particulate matter that lodges in your lungs and can lead to short-term problems but also long-term disease if enough of it is there for a long period,” Monongalia County Health Officer Brian Huggins said.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Matt Brudy said the highest concentrations of smoke will be through the day Friday.
“Smoke concentrations are going to be on the increase this afternoon and will probably be the thickest we’ve seen in the last 24 hours or so,” Brudy said.
Children, older adults, pregnant women, and adults with respiratory or heart disease should really avoid outdoor physical activity completely; they should try to stay indoors,” Huggins said.
The air quality is a Code Purple in the Eastern Panhandle.
Code purple means air pollution concentrations within the region are very unhealthy for the general population.
West Virginia Eastern Panhandle Weather’s Will Astle said it’s time to take precautions.
“We reminded everybody to wear N95 masks if they have them if they’re outside today,” Astle during an appearance on The Panhandle News Network, “The air quality is really unhealthful, almost to the dangerously unhealthful level.”
That means it is especially unhealthy for those with issues affecting their lungs, but a day like today is unhealthy even for healthy folks. “It’s actually not even healthy for people that are in good health to be out in this kind of air for a long time.”
Saturday’s unsettled weather could mean an end to the poor air quality, Astle said.
“Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening, we’re going to have a cold front approach and that’s going to bring some stormy weather,” he said.
“The main threat is going to be strong, damaging winds because it’s such a strong cold front. But there is also a slight tornado risk in eastern Jefferson and eastern Berkeley.”
The cold front will get rid of that smoky air, though, according to Astle.
“I think we’re still going to have the smoke around overnight tonight and tomorrow morning until that cold front passes tomorrow evening,” says Astle, adding, “That cold front should sweep the smoke out.”
Brudy has a similar forecast.
“The wind turns from northwest where it’s pulling the smoke from to out of the south,” Brudy said. “Once it does that tomorrow morning, the smoke should move out of here pretty quickly by the time most people wake up tomorrow morning.”
Brudy said the chance of rain will increase into the weekend, but that won’t bring much relief in the air quality numbers. Any air quality improvement will be brief and last primarily during the rainfall event only.
“You’ll likely get a brief increase in the air quality,” Brudy said. “But the reduction in the smoke we’re going to see tomorrow will come from the wind moving it off to our north and not the rain.”
It could be a smoky start to the week, but by the middle of the week, air quality should return to normal.
“The smoke could linger into Monday, but it looks like by the time we get to the middle of next week, the flow in the atmosphere should keep the smoke out of our area,” Brudy said.
Recommendations include:
• All other adults should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.
• Outdoor camps should move activities indoors and limit activities outdoors to absolute minimal levels
• Outdoor pools are strongly recommended to close to protect the public and employees.
like lifeguards who must work in the hazardous conditions
• Daycare centers and schools should keep children indoors during recreation time
• Employers should limit outdoor activity for employees to the greatest extent possible
• If outdoor activity is necessary for extended periods, individuals should wear a fitted N95 or KN95 respirator mask
Activities impacted in the Eastern Panhandle include:
Martinsburg Berkeley County Parks and Rec will be moving outdoor recreation indoors.
Lambert and War Memorial pools will be closed through 5:00 p.m. Friday.
The Martinsburg Farmers Market is canceled for Saturday.
Jefferson County Parks and Recreation has announced the movie in the park originally scheduled for tonight has been postponed.
The town of Bolivar had a big 200th celebration planned for tomorrow, but that has been canceled.