Air quality plummets in Eastern Iowa as Canadian wildfires rage on

A haze engulfed Eastern Iowa on Thursday, painting the sky gray, making noses crinkle and forcing coughs from residents.

The wave of smoke had wafted down from more than 300 wildfires blazing in Canada. It wasn’t the haze’s first visit to the northern U.S. this summer — and it likely won’t be its last visit.

Wildfire smoke carries a mixture of solid and liquid particles that is dangerous to breathe in. Its heavy presence caused the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to issue an air quality advisory early Thursday afternoon for portions of Central and Eastern Iowa.

Air quality in Cedar Rapids deteriorated from “moderate” to “unhealthy” throughout Thursday morning, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Fire and Smoke Map.

The “moderate” category indicates acceptable air quality with a potential risk to sensitive populations. The “unhealthy” level of concern means the general public may experience health effects. Sensitive groups — like pregnant people, children and older adults — may experience more serious health effects.

The air quality advisory will last through 10 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

“It’s going to be around here for a while,” said John Haase, a meteorologist at the NWS Quad Cities bureau.

New wave, different origins

This isn’t the first time wildfire smoke has rung the alarm bells for air quality in Cedar Rapids.

Iowa skies turned hazy as early as mid-May, when uncontrolled fires blazed in western Canada. The Iowa DNR’s air quality bureau recorded 33 exceedances of the national air quality standards in the last two weeks of the month. Cedar Rapids endured four recorded exceedances.

Just weeks later, the smoke is here again — this time, coming from different locations, Haase said. Wildfires are now also burning uncontrollably in central and eastern Canada.

Winds in the mid- and high-levels of the atmosphere pushed the smoke south to blanket Minnesota and Wisconsin yesterday. It has continued to spread south.

“It’s a whole new batch of smoke,” Haase said. “In this case, the issue is that there’s so much smoke (up high) that it’s reaching the surface.” It made visibility in some parts of Eastern Iowa decline to just 2 miles.

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Drought impacting Canada and Iowa

This weekend, the winds should change to angle west, giving Iowa some respite. A precipitation event in the area could change the smoke trajectory as well — but it’s not likely, Haase said.

There are only small chances of showers in Eastern Iowa on Saturday night or Sunday. Next week looks dry and warm, with temperatures in the 80s and 90s.

Drought has played a major role in Canada’s wildfires. Nearly half of the country was classified as abnormally dry or in a drought condition by the end of May — fueling the spread of wildfires across the nation.

Iowa is continuing to witness similar weather conditions: Thursday’s U.S. Drought Monitor report showed a significant increase in areas experiencing moderate or severe drought.

So far in 2023, Cedar Rapids has received 9 inches of rain — 2 fewer inches than it had at this time last year, Haase said. That’s 5.5 inches below normal.

“The drought will continue to intensify … and continue to worsen,” Haase said. It may persist all the way into September, at least.

As for the potential for more smoke in Iowa this summer? Only time will tell.

Wildfires from the Western U.S. may send smoke east later this summer. But Canada still reigns as the immediate threat. As of June 7, it had 186 uncontrolled blazes.

“It depends on if they get it under control or if new ones form,” Haase said. “It’s hard to predict that.”

Brittney J. Miller is the Energy & Environment Reporter for The Gazette and a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.

Comments: (319) 398-8370; brittney.miller@thegazette.com