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For the Star Journal

RHINELANDER – As Canadian wildfires continue to burn, the Northwoods is experiencing hazy skis. The north-to-south spread of the smoke today is continuing to impact local air quality.

The WI DNR has issued an air quality advisory for Monday, June 26 through Thursday, June 29. It is expected that the heaviest smoke impacts will be across the eastern half of the state, where the Air Quality Index, (AQI) is expected to be within the UNHEALTHY category, but could reach the VERY UNHEALTHY category. 

 At this time, experts anticipate the eastern half of the state will see the heaviest surface smoke through the episode, with noon Tuesday through noon Wednesday currently appearing to be the timing of heaviest impact. 

The Oneida County Health Department is urging people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:

– Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

– Keep outdoor activities short.

– Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.

Everyone else – takeany of these steps to reduce your exposure:

– Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.

– Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.

– Be active outdoors when air quality is better.

Over the next few days, the AQI will likely range from the UNHEALTHY to VERY UNHEALTHY categories, but the possibility of the AQI reaching the HAZARDOUS category cannot be ruled out.  

Interested in learning more?  Details about this advisory are available on the Wisconsin Air Quality Monitoring Data site: https://airquality.wi.gov/home/map and AirNow.gov: https://www.airnow.gov/