Canadian and Minnesota Wildfires Send Smoke Into Upper Midwest and Northeast

More than 830 wildfires burned in Canada on Wednesday along with more than a dozen in northern Minnesota. The fires forced mandatory evacuations and sent smoke from the largest blazes in west-central Ontario into the upper Midwest and Northeast. Air quality monitors recorded unhealthy levels in New York City, the Eastern Lake Ontario region, the Central New York region, and parts of Western New York.

Heavy smoke was reported over Duluth, Minnesota, and Marquette, Michigan, on Wednesday morning. Extreme smoke covered northern Wisconsin while additional plumes moved across New York state and New England, reaching New York City and Boston later in the day. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that air quality had reached unhealthy levels in parts of the city due to Canadian wildfire smoke.

He said poor air quality affects everyone but is especially concerning for people with heart or lung conditions, older adults, pregnant residents, and children. The mayor urged residents to limit outdoor activities and remain indoors in air-conditioned spaces, and the city offered free masks to residents.

Air quality alerts remained in place from Minnesota to New York City, including all of Wisconsin and Michigan.

Temperatures in parts of the Northeast and upper Midwest were expected to reach the high 90s to triple digits on Wednesday and Thursday. In Texas, flash flooding continued in Hill Country after 6 to 16 inches of rain fell earlier in the week, with another 6 to 12 inches expected in parts of South-Central Texas and up to 20 inches possible in some areas.

Witnesses reported a tornado near San Antonio on Wednesday morning with no immediate reports of damage.

An extreme heat warning was issued for the Los Angeles area on Wednesday and is expected to remain in effect until Thursday night. High temperatures in Los Angeles and Orange counties were forecast at 96 degrees on Wednesday.