Monitoring air quality this week

 

Nearly a full week after a tornado and powerful straight-line winds tore through Elkhart, fire officials started burning some of the storm debris at the Toledo Road Storage Yard Monday.

City officials say the burn will go from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., every day until it is no longer needed. 

Officials are monitoring air quality across Michiana, because one of the reasons the burn would be called off would be for poor air conditions (if an Air Quality Action Day is issued).

Burning will also not happen if winds are too high or if a burn ban is in place.

The AQI (Air Quality Index) dipped into the yellow, or moderate, category at times on Monday. Smoke from Canadian wildfires has returned to Michiana skies, although not nearly as severely as at times last summer. 

Additionally, increased humidity can trap smoke in the atmosphere more easily, potentially worsening the air quality in certain locations. 

Fortunately, air quality is not expected to dip much more, and a cold front should usher in some fresh air by Wednesday night.