Wildfire smoke again returns to Western Pa.

The Pittsburgh region is again suffering from poor air quality as smoke from Canadian wildfires has returned.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on Monday declared a statewide code orange air quality action day.

Pennsylvania officials warned that a number of locations could see a rise in particulate matter that reaches the lower end of the code red/unhealthy range for several hours.

But Monday’s air quality still isn’t as bad as it has been during prior smoke events that have led to widespread code red alerts, said Jason Frazier, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Prior air quality alerts this summer showed particulate matter numbers “notably higher” than anything the Pennsylvania region is expected to see Monday, he said.

“It’s not as intense,” he said, adding that different areas will notice varying levels of smoke in the air throughout the day.

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Areas west and northwest of Pittsburgh — particularly areas in Ohio — are expected to see more smoke Monday, he said. Locations east of the city, including Greensburg, should see air quality that’s “a little better” than surrounding areas.

Pennsylvania officials urged young children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems like asthma, emphysema or bronchitis to limit outdoor activities on code orange days like Monday.

People are encouraged to help reduce fine particulate matter pollution by refraining from burning leaves, trash or other materials and avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.

A Mon Valley Air Pollution Watch also is in effect Monday, and officials said companies that contribute to pollution can help by temporarily reducing activities that produce emissions.

The Pittsburgh area is seeing this smoke because wind from the area of Canadian wildfires has blown into the region, Frazier said. It’s expected to dissipate as wind from other locations helps to push out the smoke now hanging in the air, he said.

Frazier estimated that the smokiness would start getting a bit better later in the day on Monday.

“A lot of this is based on wind movement that could disperse smoke in the air,” he explained.

By Tuesday, Frazier said, the air quality should improve. He said there may still be a bit of the “hazy, milky” appearance in the sky on Tuesday, but it should clear up by Wednesday and later in the week.

That doesn’t mean the smoke won’t return again, Frazier said.

“As long as those fires are continuing to burn and burn such a large land space as they are, you’re going to continue having these threats,” he said, explaining the smoke could continue returning throughout the rest of summer.