Wednesday's weather brought low visibility, bad air and some different smells.
An air quality alert was issued for western Pennsylvania and was in effect until 12 a.m. Thursday.
The alert was issued by the PA Department of Environmental Protection.
"A code red means air pollution concentrations are unhealthy for general population. Try to minimize outdoor activities while under a code red alert," said a post from the National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh.
Chief Meteorologist Eric Wilhelm, who is based in Youngstown, Ohio, posted on his Facebook page Wednesday that it was “Very likely that today's air quality is the worst our region as a whole has experienced in the 21st century.”
A Facebook post from meteorologist Chris Easlick with WNEM-TV5 of Saginaw, Michigan, was shared many times on Wednesday.
Easlick was able to get some information on why the forest fire smoke didn't necessarily smell like wood smoke. Easlick gained the information from a contact at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy who asked their toxicologist for an answer on the burning plastic smell from the smoke.
Here it is from the toxicology department:
‘Wood fires emit a lot of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Most of these VOCs are noticeable to our noses as the familiar "campfire" smell, but they break down quickly when exposed to UV radiation from sunlight. Other VOCs like benzene, formaldehyde and acrolein are also released and they outlast the "campfire" VOCs. It's these chemical compounds that you're smelling as the smoke wafts around for a few days and settles to the ground and reaches your nose," Easlick reported in his post.
Meanwhile Wednesday's view across the hills of Fertigs was just some trees and mysterious shapes in the haze. It was a far cry from last week's picturesque farm scene.
That's just the nature of things 'round here.
An air quality alert was issued for western Pennsylvania and was in effect until 12 a.m. Thursday.
The alert was issued by the PA Department of Environmental Protection.
"A code red means air pollution concentrations are unhealthy for general population. Try to minimize outdoor activities while under a code red alert," said a post from the National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh.
Chief Meteorologist Eric Wilhelm, who is based in Youngstown, Ohio, posted on his Facebook page Wednesday that it was “Very likely that today's air quality is the worst our region as a whole has experienced in the 21st century.”
A Facebook post from meteorologist Chris Easlick with WNEM-TV5 of Saginaw, Michigan, was shared many times on Wednesday.
Easlick was able to get some information on why the forest fire smoke didn't necessarily smell like wood smoke. Easlick gained the information from a contact at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy who asked their toxicologist for an answer on the burning plastic smell from the smoke.
Here it is from the toxicology department:
‘Wood fires emit a lot of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Most of these VOCs are noticeable to our noses as the familiar "campfire" smell, but they break down quickly when exposed to UV radiation from sunlight. Other VOCs like benzene, formaldehyde and acrolein are also released and they outlast the "campfire" VOCs. It's these chemical compounds that you're smelling as the smoke wafts around for a few days and settles to the ground and reaches your nose," Easlick reported in his post.
Meanwhile Wednesday's view across the hills of Fertigs was just some trees and mysterious shapes in the haze. It was a far cry from last week's picturesque farm scene.
That's just the nature of things 'round here.
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