Arkansas Storm Team Blog: What’s in our air this week?

A haze has settled over much of Arkansas. There are quite a few things floating in the air that may be causing sniffles and symptoms. This is due to both fall allergens and air quality.

Wildfire smoke from the Western United States and Canada is moving through parts of the atmosphere above the Natural State, causing hazy skies. It’s the reason the area has experienced a very vibrant sun at sunrise and sunset over the last week or so. Moonrises have been a bit more orange than usual, too, for the same reason. The wildfire smoke is also causing the air quality to fall into the moderate range in central Arkansas.

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This means sensitive groups, like those with asthma and anyone who is very sensitive to pollutants, may be impacted by the particulate matter from wildfire smoke floating in the air. Moderate air quality means most healthy individuals won’t be impacted. Moderate air quality is likely to continue for much of this week, as long as the wildfire smoke is streaming through the atmosphere and traveling over Arkansas.

Also in the Arkansas air this week are fall allergens. Ragweed, grasses, and chenopods are causing high pollen counts this week. With only small rain chances in the forecast, a brief shower or thunderstorm won’t help keep the pollen at bay. Instead, it may amplify pollen counts. This occurs when raindrops burst pollen spores into even smaller pieces, meaning they can disperse at an even higher rate. The only way to lower pollen counts in the peak fall pollen season is with a long, consistent rain, likely lasting a few hours or on and off for a day. This would lower pollen counts on the day receiving rain, but the raindrops would still burst pollen spores into smaller pieces, and as puddles and wet spots dry out, the spores are still dispersed in a greater capacity.