Canada fires to carry smoke into US once again
Remember the thick smoke that blanketed parts of the U.S. in 2023? Wildfires are once again burning in Canada, and some of that smoke is now making its way south.
Smoky conditions can be expected in parts of the north-central U.S. as smoke from Canada is blown to the southeast by steering winds.
After a quiet stretch in 2024, wildfire smoke from Canada is once again drifting into the United States. This time, AccuWeather meteorologists say that smoke will drift through parts of the Midwest over several days.
Several large active wildfires have been burning from British Columbia to Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada. The majority of the fires were believed to be man-made.
"Many of the fires were started by human activity, such as debris burning near cabins, carelessness with ATVs and UTVs in dry grass, picnics and firepits placed in dry areas, and general inattention to fire conditions," according to Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency Vice President of Operations Steve Roberts.
Steering winds have begun to direct the smoke southeastward. The smoke will enter parts of the northern Plains and Midwest late this week and continue through the weekend.
"Most of the time, the smoke will be high-flying and dim the sun, leading to vivid sunrises and sunsets and causing a hazy appearance to the sky overhead," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.
"However, there will be episodes where the smoke can reach the lower levels of the atmosphere and affect visibility and air quality," Buckingham added. "That could be a safety concern for travel in extreme cases and pose health problems for some individuals with respiratory issues."
The major cities where the smoke is most likely to thicken enough to be noticeable will be in Fargo, North Dakota; Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota; Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Chicago; and perhaps as far to the south and east as Detroit and Indianapolis.
With the free AccuWeather app, you can optimize your health by localizing air quality in your area. Jon Porter shows how the app can help you monitor pollution and other hazards in your area.
As heat builds in from the western U.S. next week, the hot air and any lingering smoke can lead to ozone issues over a broad area of the north-central region, Buckingham added.
"Most of these areas in the Midwest will have days where there is little or no rain around and the sun is out over the weekend. So the smoke will be more noticeable," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said. "The smoke may reach into the Northeast as well, but with extensive clouds and showers this weekend, the smoky haze may be mixed in and not so obvious."
A man pauses to look at the smoke and haze shrouding One World Trade Center building in New York City, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Intense Canadian wildfires are blanketing the northeastern U.S. in a haze, turning the air acrid and the sky yellowish gray. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)
During the spring and summer of 2023, smoke from large wildfires in Quebec and Ontario was significant across the northeastern U.S. There were multiple days when the smoke was thick and hazardous in New York City.
The AccuWeather app gives you the ability to monitor pollution and air quality levels in your area. These factors impact your health and can help you make decisions about outdoor activities.
Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Report a Typo
