A cloud of smoke from Canadian wildfires suddenly blanketed Minnesota on Sunday evening, marring what had otherwise been a sun-drenched weekend and leaving some residents wondering whether the misery of last summer was starting all over again.
A thick haze of smoke had repeatedly hung over cities in the Midwest and on the East Coast throughout the summer last year, leaving some communities breathing air so polluted that schools were closed and sporting events canceled.
For now, experts say that a similar pattern has indeed appeared to have emerged.
“We’re expecting a pretty active wildfire season in Canada,” said David Brown, an air quality meteorologist at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
For now, he added, people on the East Coast appear unlikely to endure the kind of periods of highly polluted air that startled many people last year.
Persons:
“ We’re, ”, David Brown, Mr, Brown
Organizations:
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Locations:
Minnesota, East, Canada, Quebec, Ontario