Wildfire Smoke Prompts Air Quality Alert

A Code Orange air quality alert has been issued for parts of Maryland including Montgomery County due to Canadian wildfire smoke.

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) issued the alert, which indicates unhealthy air quality conditions for sensitive groups.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments also forecast a Code Orange day for the D.C. region Wednesday. Earlier this month, a Code Purple alert was issued due to remnants from wildfires in Canada.

“Widespread unhealthy for sensitive group air quality conditions are expected Wednesday and Thursday due to Quebec wildfire smoke impacting the area, with potentially unhealthy conditions in western Maryland,” MDE stated on Twitter.

Counties in western Maryland were raised to a Code Red alert, which indicates unhealthy air quality conditions.

According to MDE, winds will move more south by Friday, as the smoke should gradually move north and dissipate. Rain and thunderstorms should also help with smoke.

“This is a very complex situation that will need to be monitored very closely over the next several days,” according to forecast information from MDE.

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