Canadian Smoke: Day 2

There was heavy smoke in the air all day yesterday - you could even smell it. 

This is downtown Lafayette looking into the town center which you can barely see. There are no clouds so the sky should be blue. At least you can see the sun! (Photo by Dave Bankert.)

We sit out and enjoy our patio a lot during the summer and early fall,

but with skies greyed by smoke and drifting particulates, we aren't risking it right now. 

The air quality today is still very poor but it is improving.

Our air quality index has dropped a bit and while we are still in the bracket for Unhealthy, yesterday we were at the top of that bracket at Very Unhealthy and just under the line for Hazardous. 

Who'd have thought that wildfires in another country could affect us so badly? I have never experienced anything like this.

It's going to be another indoor day.

Canadian Smoke

I'll be spending the day inside today - a quick run to the mailbox will be it. Smoke and particulates from the Canadian fires has reached Indiana.

Yesterday afternoon it was so bad that it appeared as though fog had settled in, but it wasn't fog, it was smoke. After only a few minutes outside, my head was hurting and my chest felt tight and wheezy. 

The smoke has been around for a week or so, making for pretty and unusual sunsets like this one, but yesterday was like nothing I've ever experienced. There were warnings to stay inside, cautions to be prepared for sudden blind spots while driving, and to stay home if at all possible.

It was scary and I quickly went back inside where I could breathe more easily.

I feel for those who work outdoors and the animals who live outside and can't get away from this.  This is awful.