Day two: Air quality still unhealthy in Wichita. Here’s when you can expect it to improve
Thursday is the second day this week Wichita residents and visitors will see air quality considered “unhealthy.”
As of 9 a.m., the air in Wichita measured 152 on the Air Quality Index, which measures the pollution levels. Going on an hour-long walk outside in the city Thursday would be equivalent to smoking 0.13 cigarettes, according to one AQI calculator.
While pollution in the air remains at unhealthy levels, it is measuring less than Wednesday, which saw an 166 AQI at 10 a.m.
The poor air quality was due to wildfires burning in the Northwest, specifically Oregon, Washington State and Canada. As of Thursday morning, a northwest fire tracking agency was still reporting 18 fires in the area.
How long will unhealthy air quality last in Wichita?
“We’re thinking it’s going to thin out a little bit during the daytime ... but return back later this evening, tonight,” National Weather Service forecaster Christian Williams said Thursday morning of the poor air quality. “It’s going to linger especially across southeast Kansas and parts of eastern Kansas.”
When it comes to the usual cases of poor air quality in Kansas, wildfires are a common cause, Williams noted.
“Right now it’s coming from the Canada fires ... sometimes you can get smoke from even California fires, it kind of depends on the flow and the atmosphere,” Williams told The Eagle. “Sometimes it can be from just different types of air falls and pollution.”
So when will the area start to see better air quality? The forecaster said a coming cold front could help.
“We might see some of that finally kind of scatter out. The next couple of days we’ll probably still see some remnants of it kind of linger,” Williams said.
The NWS expects Sunday to be the start of temperatures below 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Sunday is forecast to see a high of 85, while Monday and Tuesday could see highs in the 70s.
Is it safe to go outside during poor air quality days?
Air quality measured at 152 AQI can negatively affect the health of people in sensitive groups and the general population.
Wichita’s air quality is in the “red zone,” which means active outdoor activity should be limited. If you have to be outdoors for long periods of time, you should take breaks inside. Officials also advise you bring any strenuous activities indoors, especially individuals with underlying health conditions or in sensitive groups, like children and seniors.
If you do have to go outside for a longer period of time, the American Lung Association recommends wearing a mask — specifically an N95 or a KN95. The organization also recommends keeping all windows and doors closed and running your air conditioner on a recirculated setting.
You can check current air quality conditions for your location by visiting airnow.gov.
