For the third time this summer, residents of South Dakota are feeling the effects of the worst wildfire season ever in Canada.

As more than 600 blazes continue north of the border, 226 of which are still uncontrolled, the Mount Rushmore State is under another air quality alert.

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources issued the warning Tuesday (August 29) for areas across the state where smoke from the wildfires is forecasted to settle this week.

KXRB logo
Get our free mobile app

The alert is in effect until at least Thursday (August 31) but may be extended if conditions don't improve over the next 48 hours.

The South Dakota Department of Health is advising that smoke levels from the fires could impact elderly citizens, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems.

Health officials recommend avoiding excessive physical exertion and minimizing outdoor activities during periods of low visibility caused by wildfire smoke. People are also encouraged to keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors.

 

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

KEEP READING: What to do after a tornado strikes

LOOK: The most extreme temperatures in the history of every state

Stacker consulted 2021 data from the NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) to illustrate the hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in each state. Each slide also reveals the all-time highest 24-hour precipitation record and all-time highest 24-hour snowfall.

Keep reading to find out individual state records in alphabetical order.

More From KXRB