CONTACT
Amanda Woita, Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, (402) 471-4243;
Amanda.woita@nebraska.gov
Julie Naughton, Office of Communications, DHHS (402) 471-1695 (office); (402) 405-7202 (cell);
julie.naughton@nebraska.gov
Lincoln – Issued: Evening of April 11 through the morning of April 12
Affected Area: Southcentral Nebraska
Air Quality Index: Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Lincoln – Current prescribed burning in Kansas and Oklahoma for the management of prairie and rangelands may affect the air quality in Nebraska. As a result, an advisory of possible Moderate (yellow category) air impacts has been issued for the evening on April 11 through the mid-morning of April 12 for southcentral Nebraska. There is also the potential for brief periods of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange category) air impacts for the same area.
There is a chance for Moderate smoke impacts in the Grand Island and surrounding areas on Monday, with the potential for brief periods of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. During yellow category/moderate conditions, unusually sensitive groups should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. During orange/unhealthy for sensitive groups conditions, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects and should reduce heavy or prolonged outdoor exertion.
The following Air Quality Index (AQI) is used. This AQI is used nationally. For an hourly update on air quality across Nebraska visit https://www.airnow.gov
Smoke advisories are issued for impacted areas by notifying the media and local health departments, and posting information on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy's (NDEE) webpages and social media sites. Advisories help citizens protect their health by alerting them to days where outdoor activities should be reduced or avoided to minimize exposure to smoke.
Advisories are based on data provided by multiple sources in the region, smoke plume modeling and from air quality monitors located in Omaha, Bellevue, Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand Island and Scottsbluff.
For more information on smoke awareness, visit NDEE's website at http://dee.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/OnWeb/AirSA
For more information on burn activity and a smoke outlook, visit NDEE's website: http://dee.ne.gov/Press.nsf/pages/AirSA-2
View seasonal news release for information on the Flint Hills burns:
https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Smoke-Advisory-System-Activated-for-2022-Flint-Hills-Prescribed-Burns.aspx