Air quality alert amid rain chances to end this week

More smoke from Canadian wildfires is anticipated to influence the air quality Thursday and Friday. An air quality alert has been issued for most of Thursday through noon Friday (June 5-6, 2025).

The air quality early Thursday (as of 6 a.m. this morning) was acceptable: most of eastern Nebraska within the “Moderate” category.

Sensitive groups like those with heart or lung disease, older adults are advised to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion and avoid intense outdoor activities. The worst of the smoke reaching the surface looks to be by Thursday afternoon, but the air quality alert will be in effect until noon Friday.

You can monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) for your location at airnow.gov.

This morning though will be cloudy yet comfortable with temperatures warming to almost 70 by the late morning hours. We’ll top out in the lower 70s this afternoon with rain moving in.

Scattered showers move in across southeast Nebraska by the second half of Thursday (beyond noon) and they’ll linger with a rumble of thunder or two into Friday. So we’re looking at several hours with rain and weaker thunderstorms through Friday, attempting to stay for the early part of Saturday as well.

And we’ll be sure to take any rain that doesn’t come with the threat of severe weather at this time of year. Totals may range from up to a tenth to a quarter of an inch or so.

There will be a Marginal (Level 1 of 5) risk for southwest Nebraska today for a storm or two becoming severe, threatening stronger winds and potentially some hail.

This all boils down to a couple more days with highs in the 70s for June – cooler weather for the beginning of meteorological summer.

Temperatures will climb to the 80s over the weekend and next week.

Meteorologist Jessica Blum 
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