The air quality around Ohio continues to be hazardous due to hundreds of wildfires up north in Ontario, Canada, with record-high readings in the Canton area.
According to AirNow.gov, the air quality index at 6 a.m. July 17 was at 284 in the Canton-Massillon area, an unhealthy level for all individuals.
In addition the air particles, PM2.5 levels were at 271 and the PM10 levels were at 172.
Here’s what to know as the smoke hangs in the air:
When will it get better?
Brian Mitchell, the observing program leader at the National Weather Service Cleveland Office, said Ohioans should expect to see some improvement later in the day going into Saturday, July 18.
Incoming south winds on Friday around sunset in addition to rain showers will pick up and move the air, bringing the air quality to a decent level.
On Sunday, the air quality could worsen however as “there will be north winds so it is possible of some smoke to an extent, but it is to be determined,” Mitchell said.
How do AQI levels work?
The air quality index or AQI is how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency monitors outdoor air quality and health. It is put in six color-coded categories, each with its own range of index levels. The higher the AQI, the greater threat the air has to one’s health.
AQI values at or below 100 are satisfactory. When AQI values are above 100, air quality is unhealthy: at first for sensitive groups of people, then for everyone as the values get higher.
Since levels in the United States rarely go above 200, the maximum level the EPA scales to is 500.
What’s Canton’s air quality index record?
At 9 p.m. Thursday, July 16, Canton’s reached an AQI color of maroon, the highest level, and a value of 611. Levels stayed in the 500s or higher and remained hazardous for roughly three hours.
According to the EPA’s historical AQI data, the Canton-Massillon area’s previous highest reading the past 25 years was on June 28, 2023, with an AQI of 283.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton-Massillon air quality remains hazardous. When will it improve?
Reporting by Aaron Hughes, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Aaron Hughes, Canton Repository | USA TODAY Network
