Wildfire smoke in Siouxland, air quality alerts issued in NW Iowa

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — In the wake of a cold front that slipped through Sunday night into Monday morning, smoke has filtered into Siouxland on northeasterly winds.

That smoke originates from western Canadian wildfires burning in portions of the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Wildfires are also burning in east-central portions of Saskatchewan and western Manitoba.

As that smokiness has made its way into Siouxland, we’ve seen a deterioration of air quality throughout the region. Much of northern Iowa has seen air quality deemed “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued air quality alerts through Tuesday at 11 p.m.

In Siouxland, this alert includes: Woodbury, Sioux, Plymouth, Lyon, Osceola, O’Brien, Cherokee, Ida, Dickinson, Clay, Buena Vista, Sac, Emmet, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, and Calhoun Counties.

The current air quality is particularly unhealthy for sensitive groups, including those with respiratory/heart disease, children, teenagers, pregnant people, elderly adults, and outdoor workers.

These groups should limit the duration and intensity of their outdoor activities and watch for symptoms like palpitations, coughing, shortness of breath, and unusual fatigue. They should also have an action plan ready to remedy and relieve these symptoms.

Check out the Air Quality Guide for more details and information.

Check the latest air quality with the Iowa DNR Air Quality Map

Find a variety of air quality/fire resources and information here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.