Air quality alert extended; better conditions coming soon, experts say

The Monday haze as seen from Goldcoast Road in Bridgewater, Vt. in the evening. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

A Vermont air quality alert is being extended through Tuesday, July 27, though conditions are expected to gradually improve throughout the day, according to Vermont Public Radio.

Thick haze clouded the mountains throughout the state on Monday, due to fine particulates in the air from wildfires in Manitoba, Canada. In most of the impacted areas, the air quality Monday was announced as "unhealthy for sensitive groups" in regional alert messages.

“There is a health concern for elderly people and children, [and] people with respiratory ailments,” Bennet Leon told VPR. He's with the Air Quality & Climate Division at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.

In less affected areas, air quality is categorized as “unhealthy,” which means all people should take note before doing outdoor activities, particularly strenuous ones, VPR reported.

Wildfires in the western U.S. caused similar conditions a week ago.

Leon expects the air quality index may drop to “moderate” by midday Tuesday, according to VPR.

— Gareth Henderson