Canadian Wildfires Update as Alert Issued for 'Some of the Densest Smoke'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Canadian wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have prompted a new warning in Minnesota's Twin Cities as "some of the densest smoke" from the blazes will shift into the region Friday.
Newsweek reached out to the National Weather Service (NWS) via email Thursday for comment.
Why It Matters
Smoke from widespread wildfires in Canada prompted air quality alerts across several Midwest and Northeast U.S. states this week, threatening public health and advising residents to alter their daily routines.
The increased concentration of airborne fine particulate matter—PM2.5—from wildfires can worsen respiratory and heart conditions, making sensitive groups particularly vulnerable, especially for people with asthma, heart disease or other preexisting respiratory conditions.
Canadian wildfires have been of recent concern to Americans who live in bordering states, as hundreds of fires have burned this summer.
What To Know
In a post to X, formerly Twitter, the NWS office in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, said, "Some of the densest smoke during this stretch is possible tomorrow morning for some folks as sinking air increases under surface high pressure. #mnwx #wiwx"
The NWS also posted a graphic warning of "heavy smoke possible early AM" Friday.
All of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, along with the majority of Iowa and Illinois, are under an air quality alert heading into Friday and the weekend. Portions of Nebraska are also under an air alert, the NWS shows on its interactive map.
The NWS warns that "Northerly winds will continue transporting waves of heavy surface smoke from wildfires across Manitoba and Saskatchewan into Minnesota. Smoke will move south across all of Minnesota and linger through Saturday afternoon. The smoke will be reinforced by an area of high pressure that will create light winds and limit the dispersion of smoke. Therefore the air quality alert has been expanded to include all of Minnesota and extended until Saturday afternoon when the air quality is forecasted to improve."
The sun is shrouded by smoke from the Canadian wildfires as it rises behind the skyline of midtown Manhattan, which includes the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building, in New York City on June 11,...
The sun is shrouded by smoke from the Canadian wildfires as it rises behind the skyline of midtown Manhattan, which includes the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building, in New York City on June 11, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by) More
What People Are Saying
NWS Weather Prediction Center Meteorologist David Roth previously told Newsweek via phone on Wednesday: "Behind the cold front from where the wildfires are in Canada there is bound to be a smoke plume--it was a bit more expansive today. Conditions across the three states should improve from Thursday afternoon onward."
Roth added, "Anyone who is sensitive to this should stay indoors and if outside they should wear a mask."
NWS Chicago posted to X on Thursday: "Poor air quality due to wildfire smoke is expected to continue through tomorrow and will be at unhealthy levels for everyone in some locations. Consider limiting prolonged outdoor activity. #ILwx #INwx"
NWS Detroit posted to X on Thursday: "The Air Quality Advisory has been extended through Saturday for all of Michigan. #miwx"
What Happens Next
If wildfires continue burning unchecked across Canada, future advisories are likely, as prevailing winds could carry more smoke into the United States.
Meteorological agencies and public health officials emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance and urge residents in affected areas to adhere to safety advisories, monitor local and federal updates, and minimize outdoor exposure until conditions improve.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7 hours ago
Raging wildfires fuel air quality concerns in US
WABC meteorologist Dani Beckstrom reports on the raging Canadian wildfires fueling air quality concerns in the U.S. August 2, 2025
9 hours ago
Canada wildfire smoke brings unhealthy air to large swaths of the Midwest
Smoke from Canadian wildfires hovered over several Midwestern states Saturday, bringing warnings of unhealthy air for at least the third day. Air quality alerts were in effect in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as eastern Nebraska and parts of Indiana and Illinois. Forecasters said the smoky skies would remain for much of the day. People with lung disease, heart disease, children, older adults and pregnant women are most susceptible to the poor breathing conditions. Canadian environmental officials said smoke from forest fires that was causing reduced visibility and poor quality would persist into Sunday for some areas. The Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir, which assesses air quality in real time, listed the city of Minneapolis as having some of the worst air pollution in the world since Friday. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the red or unhealthy category in a large swath of Minnesota and will likely remain through Saturday. AQI is a system used to communicate how much air pollution is in the air. It breaks pollution down into six categories and colors, and advice on what isn't safe to do. They range from 'good' (the color green) to 'hazardous' (maroon). 'What's been unique in this go-around is that we've had this prolonged stretch of smoke particulates towards the surface, so that's where we've really had the air quality in the red here for the past few days," said Joe Strus, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area in Minnesota. 'We've sort of been dealing with this, day in and day out, where you walk outside and you can taste the smoke, you can smell it," he said. "Sometimes we've been in higher concentrations than others. Other times it's just looked a little hazy out there.' The air quality on Saturday was improving, specifically across the Twin Cities and southwestern Minnesota, he said, but state health officials warned the air could remain unhealthy for sensitive groups through Monday. The smoke could start to dissipate Saturday before spreading as far south as Tennessee and Missouri. The EPA's Air Quality Index converts all pollutant levels into a single number. The lower the number, the better. Anything below 50 is classified as 'healthy.' Fifty to 100 is 'moderate' while 100-150 is unhealthy for 'sensitive groups." Anything above 150 is bad for everyone. Parts of Minnesota exceeded that number on Saturday. Health officials advise people with asthma and other lung disease, heart disease, children and older adults to avoid prolonged exposure to smoke and limit strenuous activities. They said to avoid burning things that could make the air pollution worse, and keep windows and doors closed to keep the smoke from getting inside. 'This is something that's become part of our summer here the last few years," said Strus, "and I think a lot of us are just looking forward to seeing a little more movement in the atmospheric winds and we'll be able to hopefully disperse some of the smoke out of here in the next few days.' ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP's environmental coverage, visit
San Francisco Chronicle
12 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Smoke from Canadian wildfires brings unhealthy air to large swaths of the Midwest
Smoke from Canadian wildfires hovered over several Midwestern states Saturday, bringing warnings of unhealthy air for at least the third day. Air quality alerts were in effect in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as eastern Nebraska and parts of Indiana and Illinois. Forecasters said the smoky skies would remain for much of the day. People with lung disease, heart disease, children, older adults and pregnant women are most susceptible to the poor breathing conditions. Canadian environmental officials said smoke from forest fires that was causing reduced visibility and poor quality would persist into Sunday for some areas. The Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir, which assesses air quality in real time, listed the city of Minneapolis as having some of the worst air pollution in the world since Friday. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the red or unhealthy category in a large swath of Minnesota and will likely remain through Saturday. AQI is a system used to communicate how much air pollution is in the air. It breaks pollution down into six categories and colors, and advice on what isn't safe to do. They range from 'good' (the color green) to 'hazardous' (maroon). The smoke could start to decline beginning Saturday before spreading as far south as Tennessee and Missouri. The air could remain unhealthy for sensitive groups through Monday, state health officials said. The EPA's Air Quality Index converts all pollutant levels into a single number. The lower the number, the better. Anything below 50 is classified as 'healthy.' Fifty to 100 is 'moderate' while 100-150 is unhealthy for 'sensitive groups." Anything above 150 is bad for everyone. Parts of Minnesota exceeded that number on Saturday. Health officials advise people with asthma and other lung disease, heart disease, children and older adults to avoid prolonged exposure to smoke and limit strenuous activities. They said to avoid burning things that could make the air pollution worse, and keep windows and doors closed to keep the smoke from getting inside. ___
