Wildfire smoke brings air quality concerns for MO

Wildfire smoke from Canada will move south, bringing hazy skies to the St. Louis and Kansas City metros, and air quality concerns today.

Here are the latest air quality levels across the state. 

Wildfire smoke plumes from fires in southern Canada will stream south today. As a result, the air quality could become unhealthy for sensitive groups. 

Air Quality Alerts

Air Quality Alerts are in effect for the St. Louis and Kansas City metros. However, even if not under the alert, sensitive groups, including those with heart disease and respiratory diseases, like asthma, should avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Be sure to monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in the nose, throat and eyes.

Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and the use of residential wood burning devices.

To see fine particulate pollution values in your area, click here. 

Below shows the progression of the wildfire smoke plumes through Sunday. It is most widespread on Friday.

Hazy skies make for vivid sunsets

With more particulates in the atmosphere from the wildfire smoke, as the sun sets, the light will hit those molecules and scatter in the atmosphere. Since the light has to travel through more of the atmosphere, the shorter wavelengths (the blue and violet colors) will be scattered out, leaving only the longer wavelengths (reds, oranges and yellows) visible to our eyes.

Therefore, in a hazy sky, the sun will appear a brighter red or orangish color. 

Wildfire smoke creates a hazy sky and vivid sun in the morning of June 2, 2025 in St. Charles, Mo. Spectrum News/Stacy Lynn

Submit your weather and sunset photos here. 

Download the Spectrum News App for the latest forecast updates.

Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.