Canadian Wildfire Smoke Impacting Air Quality In Parts Of United States

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Raging wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan prompted air quality alerts in multiple U.S. Midwest states for Friday and Saturday.

Reports predict hazy skies will impact the Great Lakes states and North Dakota.

Meteorologist Jim Cantore showed radar images of the wildfire smoke.

Per USA TODAY:

Smoke has already been detected drifting in through Montana, North Dakota and northern Minnesota, where air quality alerts have been issued. The smoke is expected to spread across the upper Midwest on Friday and Saturday before heading southeast, where cloud cover would minimize its impact.

While not on the same scale as the spring and summer of 2023, when 800-plus Canadian wildfires burned more than 40 million acres and blanketed large swaths of the U.S. Midwest and East with a gray haze, the current spate of approximately 150 blazes will have an extended impact across the border as the wind blows southeast.

Other reports predicted deeper-red sunsets in areas hit by wildfire smoke and potentially the smell of smoke in Pennsylvania.

Reuters shared aerial footage of the wildfires spreading in Manitoba.

WATCH:

From The Washington Post:

Air quality alerts are in effect for Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin, with the air quality index predicted to reach Level 3 — unhealthy for sensitive groups — or 4, unhealthy for all. These alerts mean people should avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and asthma, and keep windows closed to prevent smoke from getting indoors.

Places that may experience significantly reduced air quality and/or visibility Friday include the areas around Duluth, Silver Bay and Grand Marais in Minnesota; Houghton, Marquette and Iron River in Michigan; and Ashland, Wausau, Green Bay, Madison and Milwaukee in Wisconsin.

Moderate smoke may reach as far south as Chicago, St. Louis and Detroit on Friday evening before blowing into the East on Saturday.

Winds blowing from north to south will transport smoke from Canada to the United States during the coming days.

Smoke is predicted to spread from the northern Plains to the Midwest on Friday.

States that may experience smoky skies during the day include Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

According to CBC News, the wildfires have forced thousands to evacuate their homes.

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