Air Quality Alert

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...Dawes County (South Fork Fire region) Nebraska

WHEN... 06/14/2026 12:00 AM until 06/15/2026 12:00 PM

POLLUTANT...PM 2.5 particulates

AIR QUALITY INDEX...Moderate to Unhealthy

ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

An alert for possible Moderate (Air Quality Index yellow category) to Unhealthy AQI (Air Quality Index red category) due to smoke has been issued for the following Nebraska counties: Dawes, from June 14, 12:00 am through June 15, 12:00 pm.

During Moderate (AQI yellow category) conditions, those who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution may experience health effects, and are advised to minimize prolonged or heavy exertion. 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, children/teens, pregnant women, and those who are active outdoors. Members of sensitive groups are advised to minimize prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors and take more breaks.

During Unhealthy AQI (red category) conditions, some members of the general public may experience health effects and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children/teens, pregnant women, and those who are active outdoors. Those in sensitive groups are advised to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and consider moving activities indoors. Everyone else is advised to minimize prolonged or heavy exertion and take more breaks during outdoor activities.Smoke from prescribed burning 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.

Smoke from the South Fork Fire near Crawford Nebraska 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 wildfire impacts is available from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) at https://dee.nebraska.gov/smoke-and-air-quality. Updates on the South Fork fire, including evacuation orders, are posted at https://www.facebook.com/SouthForkFireINFO.

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.