Comfortable temperatures have arrived for the weekend, but the northerly winds that brought these cooler conditions also carried smoke from the upper Midwest. Air quality will be fair in Mid-Missouri, but sensitive individuals should exercise caution this weekend.

The smoke originates from wildfires in Canada, where wildfire season peaks this time of year. Fires this season have burned 14 million acres in Canada, on track to be the second-worst Canadian fire season on record. Canada’s worst wildfire season was two years ago, when around 37 million acres of land were scorched.

Wildfire smoke can carry dangerous particulate matter, known as PM 2.5, that can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Exposure can worsen asthma symptoms and contribute to other health problems l

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