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Smoke from Canadian and Minnesota Wildfires Brings Unhealthy Air to Midwest and East Coast Cities
Heavy smoke from more than 830 Canadian wildfires and over a dozen fires in northern Minnesota produced unhealthy air quality readings from Duluth to New York City on Wednesday. Alerts covered states from Minnesota to New England as plumes reached Boston.
Jul 15, 3:51 PM·1m read17 sources
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Heavy smoke from wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota spread across the Midwest and East Coast on Wednesday, producing unhealthy air quality readings in multiple cities and prompting alerts in 14 states. More than 830 wildfires burned across Canada that day. The largest fires in west-central Ontario sent plumes southward while mandatory evacuations took place in affected Canadian areas.
More than a dozen fires also burned in northern Minnesota. Air quality monitors recorded unhealthy readings in New York City, the Eastern Lake Ontario region, Central New York, and parts of Western New York. Heavy smoke covered Duluth, Minnesota, Marquette, Michigan, and northern Wisconsin in the morning.
Additional plumes crossed New York state and New England, reaching New York City and Boston later in the day. Air quality alerts remained in place from Minnesota to New York City, including all of Wisconsin and Michigan. The mayor said poor air quality affects everyone but is especially concerning for people with heart or lung conditions, older adults, pregnant residents, and children.
He urged residents to limit outdoor activities and remain indoors in air-conditioned spaces, and the city offered free masks. Temperatures in parts of the Northeast and upper Midwest were forecast to reach the high 90s to triple digits on Wednesday and Thursday. An extreme heat warning was issued for the Los Angeles area on Wednesday and is expected to remain in effect until Thursday night.
