Canadian wildfire smoke wafts across US as horrifying map reveals where air quality may turn deadly

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

A horrifying map shows exactly where wafts of thick smoke and toxic chemicals will hit the US from the ongoing wildfires in Canada.
Several large active wildfires have been burning from British Columbia to Saskatchewan and Manitoba over the last week, releasing plumes of toxic smoke toward America.
More than 25,000 residents from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been evacuated due to the out-of-control blazes and heavy plumes of smoke.
Multiple states, including those in the Midwest, Northeast, near the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions, have advised residents of air quality alerts and health advisories caused by the smoke.
The states expected to be impacted the most include Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, meteorologists have warned. Air quality alerts have been issued as toxic smoke made landfall there.
Parts of the Dakotas, Illinois, Ohio and other states are all experiencing moderate and unhealthy air quality levels as of Saturday morning, according to AirNow.gov.
The billowing smoke started to make its way toward the east coast later in the day, the map, created by Firesmoke.ca, revealed.
Wildfire smoke is responsible for thousands of deaths globally each year - as the intense pollution can negatively trigger people's respiratory systems.
As a result of the dire consequences of wildfires, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency advised residents to reduce outdoor physical activity, keep windows closed and avoid contributing to air pollution by limiting outdoor burning and vehicle use.
The National Weather service urged Americans in the affected states to 'keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning.'
A change in pattern late Monday into Tuesday is expected to turn winds out of the south in the Central US just before a cold front moves in from the west, according to The Weather Channel.
Because of this, the smoky skies and poor air quality issues should temporarily alleviate, pushing out of the US and back to Canada.
While officials have urged Americans to stay prepared, they noted the current situation is less hazardous than in 2023, when Canadian wildfires turned skies across the Northeast a hazy orange.
AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said: '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.
'However, there will be episodes where the smoke can reach the lower levels of the atmosphere and affect visibility and air quality.
'That could be a safety concern for travel in extreme cases and pose health problems for some individuals with respiratory issues.'
Minnesota is set to feel the brunt of the smoke. The state's Arrowhead region had the poorest air quality in the nation on Friday morning and Saturday could be worse.
AccuWeather also warned that smoke is most likely to become thick enough to be noticeable in major cities such as Fargo, North Dakota Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota.
Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin Chicago and possibly as far south and east as Detroit and Indianapolis are also at risk.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) said pollutants from the smoke are expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups in the state from Friday into Saturday morning.
'There is a possibility that hourly levels could reach the Unhealthy range for a short period of time,' EGLE added.
Meteorologists also warned that ozone problems could hit the north-central region next week due to a combination of high temperatures and lingering wildfire smoke.
Ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant that can cause various health problems, damage materials and contribute to climate change.
More than 160 wildfires across Canada have burned more than 1.6 million acres, prompting mass evacuations.
A state of emergency has been issued for Manitoba lasting 30 days, but could be extended as needed, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, said.
He added: 'This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people's living memory.
'The military is being called for help here because of the sheer scale of the 17,000 folks that we move relatively quickly.'
So far this year, Manitoba has had 102 fires, which officials say is 'well above' the province's average of 77 by this time.
Separately, wildfires in Alberta province have prompted a temporary shutdown of some oil and gas production and forced residents of at least one small town to evacuate.
That region was affected on Wednesday by wildfires spanning 11.2 square miles near Chipewyan Lake, a small community in the northern part of the province approximately 81 miles west of the oil sands hub of Fort McMurray.
Canada experienced its worst wildfire season on record in 2023, when more than 45 million acres were lost.
Huge swaths of the US , from the north east to the Great Lakes, were blanked in smog for several days as a result.