Canadian wildfires pose threat of smoke to Western Pa. once again

Pennsylvania skies could be clouded by wildfire smoke again this summer, according to meteorologists.

Canada’s wildfire season has begun, and air quality alerts have spread across the United States.

Air quality alerts are in effect across northern Iowa, and as the smoke spread southward and eastward Monday, parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin were under air quality alerts, according to the Washington Post.

Lee Hendricks, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon, said that there’s an area of high pressure that could draw some smoke into Pennsylvania.

Specifically, if the state sees any smoke, it would be in the northwestern sections of Pennsylvania later this week, he said.

“At this point, it’s very difficult to tell,” Hendricks said.

Wildfire season in Canada starts in early spring and continues through the beginning of November, according to Hendricks, and it’s about the same length as wildfire season in Western Pennsylvania.

But this year is set to be different because stronger weather systems are moving through the area every three or four days, he said.

“Last year, there were weak systems moving through,” Hendricks said. “Very few strong systems came through that actually cleared the area and improved our conditions.”

When a cold front moves in, it clears the air over that region — and the smoke.

“If we do get any smoke from those fires in the area, it won’t be a long-lasting, persistent thing,” Hendricks said.

Ashley Dougherty, a WTAE meteorologist, said the wildfires are being monitored.

“The Canadian wildfires could have impacts on us again this year,” she said. “It obviously will depend on the wind patterns and the storm systems that could help steer the smoke in our area.”