Vermont’s air quality is expected to dip Friday as smoke from wildfires in northwestern Canada blows through the state, according to a forecast from the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow program.
An air quality notice for Friday was issued on Thursday afternoon to all counties through Vermont Emergency Management’s VT-ALERT system.
The EPA’s measurement of fine particulate matter may rise from 90 Thursday to 110 Friday, according to the AirNow forecast, resulting in a designation of “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.” This includes those with heart or lung disease, people who work outside, children and older adults.
People who meet these criteria should look to reduce their outside exertion and monitor possible symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath, according to the VT-ALERT notification.
Over the past several years, Vermont summers have gotten hazier due to Canadian wildfires. In 2021, wildfires in southern Canada generated concern around Vermont’s air quality, and the state issued a similar advisory in summer 2023 because of fires in Quebec.
