Air quality warnings persist across US as wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota blankets country
Air quality warnings remain in effect across large parts of the US on Saturday, with wildfire smoke from Ontario, Canada, and Minnesota continuing to drift across the country. Residents are advised to limit outdoor activity.
Dangerous air quality warnings are expected to stay in place across swathes of the US on Saturday, as thick smoke from wildfires in the Canadian province of Ontario and the US state of Minnesota continues to spread. Some parts of the mid-Atlantic and north-east regions will endure poor air quality until Saturday afternoon, with thunderstorms possible bringing some relief but also risks of flash flooding and high winds. Meanwhile, parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes regions will continue to see dangerous conditions.
Smoke also raises concerns for the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday. However, winds are pushing the smoke east, so conditions should improve by match day. Still, Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster at the National Weather Service, told the Associated Press that smoky conditions won't disappear soon as fires remain largely unchecked.
Out-of-control wildfires continue to burn in Ontario and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota, which US officials have closed. For much of the past week, tens of millions of people across Canada and the US have breathed unhealthy air, leading to eye irritation, business closures, and cancellation of outdoor events. Flames in northern Ontario destroyed the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation community, and nearly a dozen other communities have been evacuated.
On Friday, cities including Detroit and Washington DC registered some of the worst air quality in the world, according to IQAir, with skies turning hazy orange. Vulnerable groups—those with heart or lung disease, older adults, pregnant women, and children—were urged to avoid going outside. Officials in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and other states distributed free K95 masks.
Long-term exposure to smoke can worsen health problems and lead to chronic and fatal illnesses. Wildfire smoke is linked to tens of thousands of deaths annually, and scientists estimate the human-driven climate crisis accounts for a growing share.
