Canadian wildfire smoke pushes Minneapolis to world's second worst air quality, prompting urgent health warnings
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
This situation was triggered by wildfire smoke drifting south from Canada, creating hazy skies and smoky odors across much of Minnesota. Officials issued air quality alerts statewide, urging residents to limit outdoor activity and take protective measures. The event highlights how wildfire activity thousands of miles away can significantly impact public health and daily life in urban US areas.
How Canadian wildfires affected Minneapolis and Chicago
Massive wildfires in Canada have released thick smoke plumes, carried southward by northerly winds, affecting multiple US states.
Chicago's air quality ranked worst in the world on Thursday before improving to 17th place on Friday. Minneapolis, however, worsened, securing the second spot globally for poor air quality. Some south Minneapolis neighborhoods recorded AQI levels of 170, while Hibbing in northern Minnesota saw the highest at 185, considered highly dangerous.
These levels represent fine particulate pollution (PM2.5), which can penetrate deep into lungs and bloodstream.
Other US cities facing poor air quality
The Midwest experienced widespread impact, with poor air quality reported in Cedar Rapids, Duluth, Eau Claire, Fargo, Kansas City, St. Louis, Wichita, Ashland, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Marquette, Minot, Omaha, Pierre, Superior, Traverse City, and Wausau. States including Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin remained under air quality alerts through Saturday. Millions of residents were exposed to smoke-filled air, prompting health officials to issue emergency guidance and monitor conditions continuously.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Health Risks of unhealthy air quality
According to a University of Minnesota study, air pollution causes over 100,000 deaths annually in the United States. Unhealthy air can trigger asthma attacks, cardiovascular stress, eye irritation, and breathing difficulties, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children, seniors, and those with lung or heart disease. Poor air quality has also been linked to long-term chronic health issues when exposure is prolonged or repeated.
Safety measures recommended by authorities
The National Weather Service and health experts urged residents to:
Limit prolonged outdoor activity or heavy exertion.
Keep windows and doors closed to prevent smoke infiltration.
Use air purifiers indoors where possible.
Wear N95 or N100 masks when outdoors for extended periods.
Reduce activities that worsen pollution, such as outdoor burning or vehicle idling.
Canada's wildfire season and its US environmental impact
This air quality crisis underscores the cross-border impact of wildfires and the growing influence of climate change on extreme weather and environmental hazards. Canada's 2025 wildfire season has already burned millions of acres, prompting multiple provincial air quality alerts in Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. The US situation also comes after rollbacks of more than a dozen pollution regulations, sparking debates about environmental preparedness and public health policy.
Also Read |
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
US air quality alerts: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania among 9 states hit by Canadian wildfire smoke
National Weather Service has issued a series of Air Quality Alerts across the northeastern and midwestern United States for August 5 as wildfire smoke from Canada continues to drift southward, blanketing large swaths of the country in hazardous fine particulate matter (PM2.5). NWS said residents in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana have been warned to limit outdoor activity due to unhealthy air conditions, especially for sensitive populations. New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut all remain under Air Quality Action Days through midnight tonight. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has flagged Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, and Union counties, while the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation extended the alert to all five NYC boroughs and counties north of the city including Westchester, Rockland, Orange, and Putnam. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection issued alerts for Fairfield, New Haven, and Middlesex counties until 11 PM. Across all states, officials are advising sensitive individuals — including children, older adults, and those with asthma, lung, or heart disease — to limit strenuous or prolonged outdoor activities. The New York State Department of Health echoed this concern, urging those at risk to consider consulting a physician if symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, or chest discomfort develop. The Air Quality Index (AQI) values in affected areas are expected to exceed 100, placing many regions in the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" category. Fine particulates (PM2.5), the primary pollutant, are microscopic particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, exacerbating existing health issues and triggering new symptoms in vulnerable populations. States such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana reported direct impacts from Canadian wildfire smoke, particularly from fires in Manitoba and Ontario. High pressure systems have trapped smoke close to the ground, worsening air quality. In Michigan, counties across the northern and central parts of the state were affected, with concentrations expected to ease by Wednesday. Meanwhile, Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources expects smoke to persist throughout the day, with heavier conditions in the northeast. Vermont: Counties of Bennington and Windham are under alert through midnight due to smoke-driven PM2.5 levels. Massachusetts: An alert is in effect from 11 AM to 11 PM for Fine Particulates. Pennsylvania: Issued a Code Orange Alert, indicating unhealthy air for sensitive groups, especially in urban centers. Indiana: Declared an Air Quality Action Day for fine particulates and advised reducing outdoor exposure. Officials across all regions recommend the following precautions: Avoid or limit outdoor exertion, especially if you're in a sensitive group. Keep windows closed and use air purifiers or HVAC systems with MERV-13 filters or higher. Avoid activities that worsen air quality, such as burning wood or refueling vehicles during the day. Monitor symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, or eye irritation — and seek medical advice if they worsen. Check your local AQI at for real-time updates.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
New York City air quality declines as Canadian wildfire smoke envelops region
New York City air quality is dropping as Canadian forest-fire smoke swirls down the Hudson River, shrouding much of the eastern half of the continent in a haze. A person stands with a bicycle as smoky haze from wildfires, with a poor air quality rating, covers the skyline of Montreal, Quebec, Canada August 3(REUTERS) Air-quality alerts have been posted in New York City, with 740 fires raging across Canada from the Arctic Circle to southern Ontario. In the US, the warnings reach from Minnesota to Maine, while in Canada bulletins have been posted from the Northwest Territories to Quebec. Air quality in New York is moderate and will likely get worse through the day, becoming unhealthy for sensitive groups, according the National Weather Service. Conditions in Toronto, Canada's most populous city, are unhealthy in many areas, as well as in Detroit and parts of Chicago, said. 'Wisconsin all the way into Maine, there is a big chunk of unhealthy air,' said Joshua Weiss, a forecaster at the US Weather Prediction Center. 'At least through the middle of the week we are going to have a pretty stagnant pattern, so the smoke is going to stick around.' The smoke from large wildfires raises health risks and has been blamed for hastening the melting of Arctic ice, since the soot absorbs more heat. In recent years, the plumes have drifted into US cities, most notably New York and San Francisco, turning skies orange and driving residents indoors to escape the irritants floating in the atmosphere. More than 200 of the Canadian wildfires are out of control, many in areas where it's difficult for firefighting crews to access them. The blazes have also threatened Canada's energy infrastructure, primarily in Alberta. There is a weather pattern building that should shift the winds later this week, Weiss said, blowing the smoke primarily back into Canada by Thursday and Friday.
Economic Times
a day ago
- Economic Times
Tropical storm Dexter forms in the Atlantic, National Hurricane Center gives major update on landfall in US
Synopsis Tropical Storm Dexter, the fourth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, formed in the western Atlantic. As of August 4th, it was located northwest of Bermuda and moving away from the U.S. coast. The NHC forecasts Dexter to track eastward into the Atlantic, becoming post-tropical by Wednesday. Dexter is forecast to strengthen slightly before becoming a post-tropical system by Wednesday. AP Dexter had sustained winds of 45 mph, making it a minimal tropical storm. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said tropical storm Dexter has been formed in the western Atlantic late Sunday, marking the fourth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical storm Dexter developed into a tropical storm overnight and is expected to move away from the United forecasts indicated the storm would track away from the U.S. coast and was not an immediate threat to land. A low pressure system, dubbed as AL95, developed into Tropical Storm Dexter over the western Atlantic late on Aug. 3, the hurricane center said. Dexter is releasing maximum sustained winds near 45 mph and the tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from its center, according to USA Today. ALSO READ: Who is Nancy Mace? Lawmaker who loves ICE detention videos now wants to govern South Carolina The tropical storm is forecast to move away from the U.S. coast and stay north of Bermuda. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect and no hazards to land are of 5 a.m. ET on Aug. 4, the storm was located a few hundred miles northwest of Bermuda and appeared to be moving away from the U.S., according to the hurricane center. The storm is moving about 12 mph and is expected to pick up speed before it starts slowing down on Aug. 5 and 6. "Some slight strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days," the hurricane center said. "Dexter is likely to become post-tropical by Wednesday." ALSO READ: Emergency air quality alert in New York as Canadian wildfire crisis escalates. Here's how you can track and what you should do Dexter is the fourth named storm of 2025 in the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Dexter is not a threat to the U.S. The hurricane center is forecasting the storm to track eastward and deeper into the Atlantic, where it is expected to lose its tropical features by of 4 a.m. CDT Monday, Tropical Storm Dexter was located about 255 miles northwest of Bermuda and was tracking to the east-northeast at 12 had sustained winds of 45 mph, making it a minimal tropical storm. The hurricane center said Dexter could get a bit stronger before losing its tropical features and becoming a post-tropical system on Wednesday. Dexter is no threat to any land areas. ALSO READ: Duke Dennis handcuffed after bizarre mall game in San Antonio. What are the charges against him? A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph – an upgrade from a tropical depression. The NHC said a faster east-northeast or northeast motion is expected to continue through early Tuesday before it begins to slow down on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tropical Storm Dexter's formation comes during what meteorologists predicted to be an above-average hurricane season, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast predicting 13 to 19 named storms in 2025. Last year's hurricane season saw 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and significant devastation—including more than $113 billion in damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
