U.S. Air Quality

Moderate AQI over parts of the nation, Fires Continue in Southeast

As shown by the animation taken from the US EPA's AirNow website, moderate levels of PM2.5 was observed over the eastern Plain States and western Ohio Valley. Moderate levels of PM2.5 were also reported over the southeastern states with a brief patch of code orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) during the middle of the day. Smaller patches of moderate AQI levels were observed throughout California. A significant sustained patch of code orange persisted over the Rocky Mountains during the overnight hours into the day before fading to moderate levels in the early afternoon.
As shown in the image to the right, retrieved from NOAA's Hazard Mapping System, many fires continue to burn throughout the Southeast and Mississippi Valley. These fires likely contribute to the moderate PM 2.5 levels and code orange noted over the southeastern US. A significant smoke plume was observed off the Atlantic coast of the southeast, along with a smaller smoke plume in the Gulf of Mexico. Some scattered fires were also observed in the Plain States.