Wildfire Smoke Reaches Dangerous Levels From Minnesota to New England

Millions of Americans woke up to dangerous air quality conditions on Thursday as wildfire smoke moved across several major cities in the northern U.S. Here is the latest on the fluid situation.

Residents Being Urged to Exercise Caution as Air Quality Worsens in Northern U.S.

Smoke from wildfires burning across the border in Canada is spilling over the border and impacting the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes, and the Northeast. Forecasters are warning that conditions could get worse before they get better.

It feels like deja vu, harkening back to the 2023 fires in Quebec that created hazardous air quality across the northeastern U.S. This current event could create similar conditions, making it dangerous for people with underlying health issues to spend any time outside.

Air quality alerts are now in effect for millions of residents across Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Delaware.

The smoky and hazy air is being blamed on over 800 wildfires blazing across Canada. Not surprisingly, Toronto, Ontario, suffered some of the worst air quality levels in North America on Wednesday, coming in at a "very unhealthy" designation of 220.

The U.S. saw the air quality index (AQI) ratings soar on Thursday morning as the smoke became more entrenched over the Great Lakes and the Northeast. Cities such as Minneapolis, Duluth, and Detroit experienced some of the worst air as the sun came up, with AQIs that shot up over 300.