Smoke from more than 200 active wildfires in Canada is again blanketing parts of the northern United States, creating hazardous air conditions and dimming skies across several states.
As of Wednesday, 102 fires are classified as “out of control” by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. The smoke is pushing into Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and Iowa, prompting widespread air quality alerts.
Minneapolis recorded some of the worst air quality globally for the second consecutive morning. Air quality warnings remain in effect until at least Thursday morning across the impacted regions, with health officials urging residents to limit outdoor activity, especially those with respiratory conditions.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources warned that even healthy individuals could be affected. Residents are advised to reschedule outdoor activities or take frequent breaks to reduce exposure.
The heavy smoke is visible across the Upper Midwest, stretching into Missouri and Iowa, with hazy conditions lingering in the Northeast. A “milky” sky will likely persist through the week, particularly in eastern areas.
Dry conditions and minimal rainfall continue to fuel the wildfires in Canada. Saskatchewan and Manitoba have declared states of emergency, with roughly 17,000 people evacuated so far. British Columbia and Alberta are currently battling the highest number of active fires.
Saskatchewan officials discouraged all nonessential travel and noted that over 200 wildfires have erupted in the province this spring. Additional firefighting support has arrived from other Canadian provinces and U.S. states, including Oregon, Arizona, and Alaska.
While some smoke was expected to dissipate by Wednesday evening, the ongoing fires mean the northern U.S. may face more hazy days ahead as summer approaches.
Source: ABC News