Canadian wildfire smoke triggers US air quality alerts: Which states are affected? | Today’s news
Millions of people in the Midwest and Northeast United States are facing unhealthy climate conditions as smoke from large wildfires burning in Canada and Minnesota spreads across the region, prompting air quality warnings and health warnings.
Here’s what you need to know.
Why is smoke from wildfires spreading across the US?
Large fires burning in Canada and northeastern Minnesota are producing massive plumes of smoke that are being blown south and east by prevailing winds.
Smoke is expected to spread across much of the Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast, reducing visibility and significantly worsening air quality, according to forecasters.
Which areas are affected?
Minnesota has issued an air quality warning through Friday, with the heaviest smoke expected in the state’s northeast, including Two Harbors and the Grand Portage Tribal Nation, where air quality could reach hazardous levels.
Smoke is also expected to affect:
Twin Cities metro area
Western and Central New York
Parts of the New England coast
Washington, DC (through Thursday)
Residents in parts of Maine were already reporting yellowish and brownish skies due to the smoke.
Why does this concern officials?
Health officials warn that smoke from wildfires contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – tiny particles in the air that can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.
Eye and throat irritation
Worsening of asthma and other lung diseases
Increased risk for people with heart disease
Long-term exposure to fine particulate pollution has also been linked to premature deaths.
Who is most at risk?
Smoke poses the greatest risk to:
People with asthma or COPD
Individuals with heart disease
People with a weakened immune system
In areas where air quality reaches dangerous levels, health experts say everyone – not just vulnerable groups – is at risk.
Heat and smoke make a dangerous combination
Meteorologists say the smoke comes with extreme heat, increasing health risks.
“These two things coinciding with each other are not good from a health perspective,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Tyler Hasenstein.
The heat can put additional stress on the body, while the smoky air makes breathing difficult, creating a potentially dangerous combination.
How can you protect yourself?
Health professionals recommend:
Stay indoors as much as possible
Keeping windows and doors closed
Operation of the air conditioner or air purifier, if available
Avoid strenuous outdoor activities
If you must go outside, wear a well-fitting N95 mask
Monitoring local air quality alerts before going outside
When will conditions improve?
Forecasters expect smoke to continue to affect parts of the Midwest and Northeast through the week. Conditions may gradually improve after the weather systems move in and a cold front passes over some areas to help disperse the smoke. Until then, officials are urging residents to follow local air quality advisories and limit outdoor exposure whenever possible.
