Wildfire smoke map: when US air quality will improve from Canada
Raging wildfires across Canada have caused thick smoke to spread into the southern United States, bringing dangerous levels of air pollution to the most populous parts of the country.
Hazy fog has blanketed the sky through parts of the Northeast and Midwest, reaching New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, Ohio Valley and Virginia.
And the smoke has reached as far west as Minnesota, South Carolina and the Georgia/Florida border.
About 100 million people are affected by unhealthy air quality and environmental agencies in the US have issued warnings warning people to stay indoors.
But everyone is wondering when the skies will return to normal? Here are answers to some of the most popular questions about the thick haze.
New York City was blanketed in smoke Tuesday night from a record-breaking wildfire in Canada
Hazy skies caused by Canadian wildfires blanket Washington’s landmarks and skyline
The GM Renaissance Center in Detroit is seen through haze and smoke on Tuesday
The Boston skyline shrouded in smoke as the sun sets, in Boston, Massachusetts on June 6, 2023
What causes the smoke?
Much of the smoke pouring into America comes from Canada, which has been ravaged by wildfires, especially in the province of Quebec.
There are currently 416 active fires across Canada and 240 have been classified as ‘out of control’ by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. The fires burned more than 8 million acres – about the size of 8 million football fields.
As of Tuesday morning, more than 160 wildfires were raging in Quebec and at least 114 were out of control, most of which broke out in the past week.
Canadian officials classify this year as one of the country’s worst fire seasons on record.
Experts have blamed a warmer and drier spring as the normal reason for the high number of wildfires.
And these conditions are expected to continue throughout the summer, which is cause for concern.
Clouds of smoke from a major wildfire in Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada on June 3, 2023
Canada is currently experiencing its worst wildfire season since the start of the year, with more than 6.7 million hectares burned since the start of the year
A construction worker walks past damage caused by a wildfire in Nova Scotia, Canada
A firefighter sends water onto a burning lawn behind a residential home in British Columbia
The eastern Canadian city of Halifax in Nova Scotia declared a local state of emergency late Sunday after a wildfire caused evacuations and blackouts
A map showing the active wildfires across Canada that have spread across 8.4 million acres of land
When will the smoke go away?
It’s not clear how long the sky will remain blanketed in smoke, and it depends on which way the wind is blowing.
Some cities in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio are expected to see some improvement by Wednesday morning, but others like Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and the Carolinas will continue to see the thick haze.
The situation could get worse in the north through Thursday as wildfires in Canada continue to burn.
The smoke could spread back to New York, Philadelphia, Newark, Washington, Richmond, Virginia and Baltimore, adding to the very poor air quality.
Visibility and air conditions will improve on Friday and Saturday as winds turn more northwesterly, but it won’t clear the smoke completely.
Where are the areas affected by the nebula?
New York City was at one point the world’s most polluted city Tuesday when the sky was blanketed in smoke from the wildfires and it was followed by Detroit.
A thick layer of smoke from the wildfires first settled in New York on Tuesday, but thickened as the afternoon progressed, preventing those in Manhattan from seeing the New Jersey skyline across the Hudson River.
Air quality alerts were also introduced in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas, according to the National Weather Service.
The city of Detroit, Michigan was also among the top five metros with the worst air quality as of Wednesday, with numerous U.S. cities still plagued by the smog.
Washington DC has been hit hard by the clouds of smoke spreading south from Canada, leaving distant landmarks covered in thick haze
A woman walks her dog along the Ottawa River in Ottawa as smoke from wildfires obscures Gatineau, Quebec
A couple walking along New York’s Brooklyn Promenade wearing masks to avoid the polluted air
Why has the smoke traveled so far?
Many of the fires that sparked the smoke crisis have been burning for weeks, but they’ve begun to be forced south in recent days due to a storm system blowing over Nova Scota.
The weather pushed much of the smoke over the East Coast and is expected to continue for the next few days.
The Manhattan skyline is seen through the thick clouds of smoke from Canadian wildfires
The Schuylkill County Courthouse in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, is surrounded by smoke and haze
Who is most at risk?
Children, seniors, pregnant women and people with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases are most affected by the smoke.
Officials have urged these vulnerable individuals to only go outside if they have a high-quality mask.
People in cities with dangerous levels are advised to exercise indoors and wear a good quality mask when going outside.
The effects of inhaling wildfire smoke and air pollution can be very harmful, causing symptoms such as chest pain and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.
The effects are understandably worse at the source of the wildfires, as Environment Canada has issued its strongest air quality warning possible, placing Ottawa under a ‘very high risk’ alert.
Thousands of people have also been evacuated across the country, with fires also reported in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires caused dangerous levels of air pollution in the Northeast. Pictured is a map showing the levels of the air quality index on Tuesday night. Purple areas are where levels were between 201 and 300. Red areas were between 151 and 200
What precautions should I take?
The smoke blanket in the sky poses enormous risks to people, especially vulnerable ones, and officials have urged people to stay safe.
People are advised to stay indoors and avoid all outdoor work and activities.
Also, make sure all windows and doors are completely closed to prevent smoke from entering the house, and use air purifiers or air conditioning units with high-efficiency filters if possible.
And for those who venture outside, they are asked to wear an N95 mask to reduce the amount of polluted air they are exposed to.