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CNN
a day ago
- Climate
- CNN
Smoke pours into the US as Canada wildfires force province's largest evacuation in ‘living memory'
Massive wildfires burning out of control in western and central Canada are forcing thousands to flee as dire forecasts for the country's fire season come to fruition. The intensifying blazes are also sending hazardous smoke toward major cities in the United States. The premiers of Manitoba and Saskatchewan provinces have declared monthlong states of emergency, and much of Canada, from the Northwest Territories and Alberta to Ontario, are at 'extreme' risk of wildfires on Friday — the highest level on Environment Canada's fire risk scale. There are just over 170 wildfires burning across Canada as of Thursday, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, about half of them uncontrolled. The country raised its National Preparedness Level to 5 of 5 on Thursday, unusually high for this early in the fire season. Last year, Canada didn't reach that level until July 15. In Manitoba, around 17,000 people are under evacuation orders, including in the city of Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and the northern community of Cross Lake, along with Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, according to CNN's Canadian news partner CBC News. 'Pray for rain,' Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said during a news briefing Friday, adding that 'in the absence of that, the past few days have been very challenging, and that may continue.' He said Saturday will be 'challenging' as the wind is projected shift to 'some unhelpful direction,' that could heighten threats for some areas. Earlier in the week, Kinew called the wildfire 'a moment of fear and uncertainty' and 'a moment of concern,' as he acknowledged the largest evacuation order 'in most people's living memory.' The Canadian Armed Forces have deployed aircraft to evacuate residents from Pimicikamak Cree Nation and Mathias Colomb First Nation, Canadian Joint Operations Command said on X Friday. A potentially dire situation was unfolding Friday in Flin Flon, a community of about 5,000 people. A wind shift was threatening to drive flames into the city, with Mayor George Fontaine telling CBC: 'It's got a straight path into here.' Most residents have already evacuated and those remaining have been told to leave. 'Everybody has to be gone, and then we're going to have to just see what nature does,' Fontaine said. 'Everyone's really fearful.' Around 2,000 residents were stranded in Pukatawagan, Manitoba, also known as Mathias Colomb, after thick smoke from the encroaching fire shut down its airport at around 6:30 p.m. CDT Thursday, the First Nations chief Gordie Bear told CBC. 'We're getting desperate now. It's getting rougher,' Bear said. Children and elders were among the community members still trying to evacuate, Pukatawagan resident Venessa Hart told CBC Thursday evening. 'How they're going to get us out now?' Hart said. 'I'm scared. I'm really scared. My anxiety is through the roof.' Wildfires have also forced thousands of evacuations in neighboring Saskatchewan, and Premier Scott Moe declared a provincial emergency Thursday. It followed calls from First Nations leaders to take that step, noting 'deep concerns' over resources to battle the fires. 'It's a very serious situation that we're faced with in Saskatchewan. We do need some rainfall and we need that sooner rather than later,' Moe said at a news conference. Climate change is leading to an increase in wildfire risk days, as well as more frequent and larger fires that exhibit more extreme wildfire behavior. Canada had its worst wildfire season on record in 2023, when extreme heat and drought helped propel blazes that burned more than 45 million acres. Last year's fire season was Canada's second-worst of the century. Some of those blazes also sent thick, hazardous smoke into US cities. This year, wildfires have burned more than 1.58 million acres in Canada, about 40% above the 10-year average for this point in the year. Nearly 90% of the acreage burned has been in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, though there are many ongoing blazes in British Columbia and Alberta as well, where some evacuations are underway. Eight firefighters were trapped near Chipewyan Lake in northern Alberta Thursday as fires became more volatile amid hot, dry conditions and strong, shifting winds, CBC reported. In Saskatchewan, about 250,000 acres have burned during each of the past two days. About 430,000 acres—an area twice the size of New York City—have burned in Manitoba since Sunday alone. Manitoba has already seen about four times the average acres burned for this time of year, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. The smoke plume from fires in the region covered over half a million square miles on Thursday, which is double the size of Texas. The wildfires have erupted during an unusually hot period for the regions, with temperatures running as much as 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit above average. Both provinces have also seen dry conditions this spring, including some moderate levels of drought. Hazardous smoke streaming across the border Computer models show smoke from the western Canadian blazes will continue to spread into the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes throughout the weekend, potentially affecting the cities of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Chicago and Detroit. The smoke will likely be in the lower to middle levels of the atmosphere, which could decrease visibility and crater air quality in some areas. Authorities in Minnesota issued an air quality alert for the northern half of the state, warning that fine particle levels are expected to reach 'a level considered unhealthy for everyone.' A similar alert is in effect throughout Michigan and Wisconsin for Friday into Saturday morning. Minnesota's Arrowhead region had the poorest air quality in the nation on Friday morning due to the smoke. Some of the mid-and-low-level smoke could linger through the weekend in parts of the Midwest, according to the National Weather Service. High-level smoke – which doesn't affect air quality – has spread across the Northern Plains, shielding the sun slightly and potentially creating vibrant sunrises and sunsets. More smoky days could be ahead for millions this summer. Canada's seasonal wildfire forecast called for well above-average blazes, and much of the western US, too, will have above-normal wildfire potential by July, according to National Interagency Fire Center forecasts.
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Climate
- Boston Globe
Could the latest Canadian wildfires pump smoke toward New England?
A frontal boundary will pull smoke into the United States over the next few days. Some smoke is expected to pass through New England late Saturday and early Sunday. Pivotal Weather High pressure behind the front with winds 10,000 to 20,000 feet up are pulling the suspended smoke to the surface, sparking air-quality alerts across Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. High pressure is falling air, so in this case, the suspended smoke aloft is being dragged down. These thick plumes of smoke are expected to reach as far south as the Gulf Coast this weekend and will push near New England late Saturday and into Sunday. But the good news is that a surface low-pressure system comprised of rising air will prevent most of the smoke from reaching the surface and will likely spare our region from any widespread air-quality issues. Advertisement Some smoke may linger around on Sunday, but it should remain high enough in the sky to avoid causing any respiratory issues for folks who are sensitive to pollution and other airborne particles. There might be a hazy tint to the sky Sunday morning, but that's really about it. Advertisement Particulates from burning trees and brush can enter the lungs and trigger intense coughing. Long-term exposure may lead to further health issues, with children, pregnant people, and the elderly being most at risk. Air quality alerts from wildfire smoke spread across much of the Midwest and all of Michigan. Boston Globe Canada's wildfire season runs May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023, when it choked much of North America, including the Northeast, with dangerous smoke for months. Many of the wildfires this year are burning in the Canadian province of Manitoba, where officials have declared a state of emergency as firefighters try to contain the raging fires. One wildfire in particular that began Monday farther north in Saskatchewan has exploded in size, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. Thousands of Canadians have been ordered to evacuate. Ken Mahan can be reached at
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Maps show Canada wildfire smoke forecast for U.S.
Wildfire smoke from Canada is expected to move over the U.S., impacting air quality for millions of people on Friday and this weekend. Maps and satellite imagery show the large-scale impact of the blazes. More than 90 fires out of 174 active blazes were burning "out of control" across Canada as of Thursday, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. A state of emergency was declared in the province of Saskatchewan where over a dozen fires are raging. Earlier this week, 17,000 people were told to flee blazes in Manitoba, a neighboring province that borders North Dakota and Minnesota. Satellite imagery from Thursday showed a massive smoke plume spanning 3,000 miles from Montana to the Atlantic. Air quality alerts are covering parts of the Upper Midwest, including areas in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern Minnesota, as well as all of Wisconsin, The Weather Channel reports. Air quality is expected to be "unhealthy for sensitive groups" on Friday in cities spanning from Madison, Wisconsin, to Duluth, Minnesota, according to the federal site AirNow. Air quality is forecast to be "moderate" in cities including Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Detroit. On Saturday, air quality is expected to worsen in parts of Minnesota, where it is forecast to be "unhealthy," AirNow said. Maps show how thick the smoke is expected to be in the U.S. on Friday and Saturday. Canadian wildfire smoke led to sweeping air quality issues across the U.S. back in 2023, when hundreds of blazes were raging. Drought and record heat contributed to those fires, which in May and June that year created a record level of emissions. More ICE shakeups as Trump "border czar" says arrests could be higher Bon Appétit reveals its list of the best new bars in America for 2025 What determines who gets a student visa? Former DHS official explains the vetting process
CBS News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Maps show Canada wildfire smoke forecast for U.S. as dozens of blazes burn out of control
Wildfire smoke from Canada is expected to move over the U.S., impacting air quality for millions of people on Friday and this weekend. Maps and satellite imagery show the large-scale impact of the blazes. More than 90 fires out of 174 active blazes were burning "out of control" across Canada as of Thursday, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. A state of emergency was declared in the province of Saskatchewan where over a dozen fires are raging. Earlier this week, 17,000 people were told to flee blazes in Manitoba, a neighboring province that borders North Dakota and Minnesota. Satellite imagery from Thursday showed a massive smoke plume spanning 3,000 miles from Montana to the Atlantic. Canada wildfires have created a smoke plume stretching 3,000 miles from Montana to the Atlantic Ocean. NOAA/CIRA Air quality alerts are covering parts of the Upper Midwest, including areas in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern Minnesota, as well as all of Wisconsin, The Weather Channel reports. Air quality is expected to be "unhealthy for sensitive groups" on Friday in cities spanning from Madison, Wisconsin, to Duluth, Minnesota, according to the federal site AirNow. Air quality is forecast to be "moderate" in cities including Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Detroit. On Saturday, air quality is expected to worsen in parts of Minnesota, where it is forecast to be "unhealthy," AirNow said. Maps show how thick the smoke is expected to be in the U.S. on Friday and Saturday. The wildfire smoke forecast for the U.S. on Friday, May 30, at 6 p.m. ET. CBS News The forecast for wildfire smoke in the U.S. for Saturday, May 31, at 6 a.m. ET. CBS News The wildfire smoke forecast for the U.S. for Saturday, May 31, at 6 p.m. ET. CBS News Canadian wildfire smoke led to sweeping air quality issues across the U.S. back in 2023, when hundreds of blazes were raging. Drought and record heat contributed to those fires, which in May and June that year created a record level of emissions.
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Climate
- Saudi Gazette
Hazardous smoke to pour into the US as Canada wildfires force largest evacuation in ‘living memory'
WINNIPEG — Massive wildfires burning out of control in western and central Canada are forcing thousands to flee as dire forecasts for the country's fire season come to fruition. The intensifying blazes are also sending hazardous smoke toward major cities in the United States. The premiers of Manitoba and Saskatchewan have declared states of emergency, and much of Canada, from the Northwest Territories and Alberta to Ontario, are at 'extreme' risk of wildfires on Friday — the highest level on Environment Canada's fire risk scale. There are just over 170 wildfires burning across Canada as of Thursday, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, and about half are uncontrolled. The country raised its National Preparedness Level to level 5 of 5 on Thursday, which is unusually high for this early in the fire season. Last year, Canada didn't reach that level until July 15. In Manitoba, around 17,000 people are under evacuation orders, including the city of Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and the northern community of Cross Lake, along with Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, according to CNN's Canadian news partner CBC News. The province's state of emergency will remain in effect for a month and may be extended if conditions warrant, said Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew. 'This is a moment of fear and uncertainty. This is a moment of concern,' Kinew said, acknowledging this is the largest evacuation order in 'in most people's living memory.' Around 2,000 residents were stranded in Pukatawagan, also known as Mathias Colomb, after thick smoke from the encroaching fire shut down its airport at around 6:30 p.m. CDT Thursday, the First Nation's chief, Gordie Bear, told CBC. 'We're getting desperate now. It's getting rougher,' Bear said. Children and elders were among the community members still trying to evacuate, Pukatawagan resident Venessa Hart told CBC Thursday evening. 'How they're going to get us out now?' Hart said. 'I'm scared. I'm really scared. My anxiety is through the roof.' Wildfires have also forced thousands of evacuations in neighboring Saskatchewan, and Premier Scott Moe declared a 30-day provincial emergency Thursday. It followed calls from First Nations leaders to take that step, noting 'deep concerns' over resources to battle the fires. 'It's a very serious situation that we're faced with in Saskatchewan. We do need some rainfall and we need that sooner rather than later,' Moe said at a news conference. Climate change is leading to an increase in wildfire risk days, as well as more frequent and larger fires that exhibit more extreme wildfire behavior. Canada had its worst wildfire season on record in 2023, when extreme heat and drought helped propel blazes that burned more than 45 million acres. Last year's fire season was Canada's second-worst of the century. Some of those blazes also sent thick, hazardous smoke into US cities. This year, wildfires have burned more than 1.58 million acres in Canada, about 40% above the 10-year average for this point in the year. Nearly 90% of the acreage burned has been in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, though there are many ongoing blazes in British Columbia and Alberta as well, where some evacuations are underway. In Saskatchewan, about 250,000 acres have burned during each of the past two days. About 430,000 acres—an area twice the size of New York City—have burned in Manitoba since Sunday alone. Manitoba has already seen about four times the average acres burned for this time of year, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. The smoke plume from fires in the region covered over half a million square miles on Thursday, which is double the size of Texas. Computer models show smoke from the western Canadian blazes will spread into the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes Friday and throughout the weekend, potentially affecting the cities of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Chicago and Detroit. The smoke will likely be in the lower to middle levels of the atmosphere, which could lower visibility and crater air quality in some areas. Authorities in Minnesota issued an air quality alert for the northern half of the state, warning that fine particle levels are expected to reach 'a level considered unhealthy for everyone.' A similar alert is in effect in far northern Michigan and throughout Wisconsin for Friday. Minnesota's Arrowhead region had the poorest air quality in the nation on Friday morning due to the smoke. Some of the mid-and-low-level smoke could linger through the weekend in parts of the Midwest, according to the National Weather Service, while projections show a high-level smoke plume plunging even further south across the Plains. High-level smoke – which doesn't affect air quality – has spread across the Northern Plains, shielding the sun slightly and potentially creating vibrant sunrises and sunsets. — CNN
