Critical Fire Weather Today + Thick Wildfire Smoke Causing Unhealthy Air Quality

Written on 06/06/2023
Joshua Adams

Warmer temperatures today with a westerly breeze of 20-30mph and low humidity. Eastern PA will face critical fire weather conditions, which have prompted a Red Flag Warning. Elevated fire weather elsewhere in Pennsylvania as well.

 

Wildfire smoke from Canada will significantly decrease air quality this afternoon, especially in Northern PA. An AQI of 100-150 is expected, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as people with lung disease (ex. asthma), older adults, children and teenagers, and people who are active outdoors.

 

All that while a stray shower or storm is possible this afternoon, but consider yourself lucky if you get more than 10 minutes of rain!




Here's a model showing density of wildfire smoke within about 8 feet of the surface. It gets very bad this afternoon in Eastern PA.