The following is transmitted in collaboration with the Nebraska
Department of Health and Human Services and the Nebraska
Department of Environment and Energy...

WHAT...Air Quality Alert

WHERE...Eastern Nebraska

WHEN... 09/03/2025 6:00 PM until 09/04/2025 11:00 AM

POLLUTANT...PM 2.5 particulates

AIR QUALITY INDEX...Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

An alert for possible Moderate (Air Quality Index yellow category)
to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI (Air Quality Index orange
category) due to smoke has been issued for the following Nebraska
counties: Antelope, Boone, Burt, Butler, Cass, Cedar, Clay,
Colfax, Cuming,  Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Gage,
Hamilton, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lancaster, Madison, Merrick,
Nance, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Pierce, Platte, Polk,
Richardson, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, Stanton, Thayer,
Thurston, Washington, Wayne, and York, from September 03, 6:00 pm
through September 04, 11:00 am.

During Moderate AQI (yellow category) conditions, those who are
unusually sensitive to particle pollution may experience health
effects. When conditions rise to the yellow category, those who
are unusually sensitive are advised to consider shortening outdoor
activities and reducing the intensity of these activities.
Symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath are signs to take
it easier.

During Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange category)
conditions, members of sensitive groups may experience health
effects. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung
disease, older adults, and children. When conditions rise to the
orange category, sensitive groups are advised to reduce prolonged
or heavy exertion and avoid intense outdoor activities.

Smoke from Canadian wildfires may affect the air quality in
Nebraska.  Smoke levels and wind directions are monitored by
Nebraska and other states to predict when impacts to the air
quality may occur.

Information regarding wildfires and Impacts in Nebraska is
available from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and
Environment (DWEE) at https://dee.nebraska.gov/wildfires-and-
impacts-nebraska.

Alerts are based on data available from weather forecasts, smoke
plume modeling, satellite imagery, and from air quality monitors
located in Omaha, Bellevue, Blair, Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand
Island, and Scottsbluff.

Advisories for smoke and air quality are issued for affected areas
by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and
Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) and posted on
agency webpages and social media sites.  By notifying the media
and local health departments, alerts help citizens protect their
health by informing them of days where outdoor activities should
be reduced or avoided to minimize exposure to smoke.