Canada wildfire: Thick smoke chokes Midwest, Northeast US; air alerts widen
According to government records, Canada is experiencing its second-worst wildfire season, with nearly 4,000 fires documented this year, NPR reported.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The cross-border smoke has impacted air quality across several US states. Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota experienced concerning air quality levels this weekend. Air quality alerts were issued for parts of Illinois and Indiana.
Authorities in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine advised residents to reduce outdoor activities due to smoke pollution.
Bob Oravec, National Weather Service Lead Forecaster, told NPR that current wind patterns are facilitating the movement of polluted air from Canada into the US.
"Air is moving at all levels and a lot of times it'll move in the same direction through the whole depth of the atmosphere, so the smoke is rising into the winds and the winds just transport it downstream, like anything — like a leaf getting blown," Oravec explained.
Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency extended its statewide air quality alert until noon on Monday, August 4th.
According to Minnesota Public Radio, the state is experiencing its longest air quality alert since the agency began issuing alerts in 2008, expected to last seven days.
Some areas of Minnesota saw improved conditions on Sunday. Earlier in the weekend, the agency predicted the air quality index (AQI) would reach the severe "red" level statewide, considered unhealthy for all residents.
The Pollution Control Agency stated that even healthy individuals might experience symptoms including eye irritation, coughing, or breathing difficulties. They warned of more severe impacts for others.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
"Sensitive or more exposed individuals may experience more serious health effects, including worsening of existing heart or lung disease and respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, possibly leading to an asthma attack, heart attack, or stroke," according to the Pollution Control Agency statement.
Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources extended air quality alerts until noon on Monday, August 4th, primarily in southeastern counties.
Michigan officials also extended alerts across all counties through Monday.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported over 700 active fires across Canada on Sunday, predominantly in southern Manitoba, north of Minnesota. Over 500 fires remain uncontrolled, forcing thousands of Canadians to evacuate.
Canada has faced wildfires throughout the year. Two individuals perished in a southeastern Manitoba wildfire in May.
Similar smoke conditions affected the US in June.
Oravec suggests poor air quality could persist in US regions.
"It looks like that pattern maintains itself going forward through this week, so it doesn't really appear to be any big break. There may be a day or so where there's a temporary break to it, but overall it looks like there is potential for additional smoke to be transported southeastward into the United States," he said.
On Sunday afternoon, IQAir ranked Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis among the US cities with the most polluted air.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Houston to receive heavy rainfall with gusty winds and severe lightning. Will tropical storm Dexter impact Texas?
Houston is expected to experience scattered, possibly heavy rainfall on Monday, reports Fox Houston News. Strong storms are barreling toward the Houston area this morning, bringing the threat of 60 mph wind gusts, heavy downpours, and lightning, according to local US media reports. Storms will weaken a bit as they head into the metro in the early afternoon. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Houston weather update The National Weather Service in League City issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Brazoria and Harris County. The warning will last until 11 a.m. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Guatemala (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo Impacted locations could include Pasadena, Pearland, Deer Park, South Houston, Bellaire, West University Place, Galena Park, Jacinto City, northern Manvel, Hunters Creek Village, Bunker Hill Village, Piney Point Village, Midtown Houston, Downtown Houston, Northside/Northline, Greenway/Upper Kirby Area, Second Ward, Greater Heights, South Belt/Ellington, and Neartown/Montrose. Officials have said residents should expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. A line of severe storms near Dallas-Fort Worth will move toward the Houston-area and could bring a brief round of storms by midday. A low-pressure system strengthened into Tropical Storm Dexter on Sunday, but it poses no threat to the United States. The storm is tracking north of Bermuda and is expected to transition into an extra-tropical system as it moves into the colder waters of the North Atlantic. Live Events Meanwhile, a tropical wave over Africa is projected to enter the eastern Atlantic this week, with a strong chance of developing into a tropical storm by late week. However, it remains far from Texas and is not expected to impact the region. Closer to the U.S., some lingering rain near South Carolina could also organize into a tropical storm later this week, though it too is not expected to affect Texas.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
New York City air quality declines as Canadian wildfire smoke envelops region
New York City air quality is dropping as Canadian forest-fire smoke swirls down the Hudson River, shrouding much of the eastern half of the continent in a haze. A person stands with a bicycle as smoky haze from wildfires, with a poor air quality rating, covers the skyline of Montreal, Quebec, Canada August 3(REUTERS) Air-quality alerts have been posted in New York City, with 740 fires raging across Canada from the Arctic Circle to southern Ontario. In the US, the warnings reach from Minnesota to Maine, while in Canada bulletins have been posted from the Northwest Territories to Quebec. Air quality in New York is moderate and will likely get worse through the day, becoming unhealthy for sensitive groups, according the National Weather Service. Conditions in Toronto, Canada's most populous city, are unhealthy in many areas, as well as in Detroit and parts of Chicago, said. 'Wisconsin all the way into Maine, there is a big chunk of unhealthy air,' said Joshua Weiss, a forecaster at the US Weather Prediction Center. 'At least through the middle of the week we are going to have a pretty stagnant pattern, so the smoke is going to stick around.' The smoke from large wildfires raises health risks and has been blamed for hastening the melting of Arctic ice, since the soot absorbs more heat. In recent years, the plumes have drifted into US cities, most notably New York and San Francisco, turning skies orange and driving residents indoors to escape the irritants floating in the atmosphere. More than 200 of the Canadian wildfires are out of control, many in areas where it's difficult for firefighting crews to access them. The blazes have also threatened Canada's energy infrastructure, primarily in Alberta. There is a weather pattern building that should shift the winds later this week, Weiss said, blowing the smoke primarily back into Canada by Thursday and Friday.
Economic Times
9 hours ago
- Economic Times
Tropical storm Dexter forms in the Atlantic, National Hurricane Center gives major update on landfall in US
Synopsis Tropical Storm Dexter, the fourth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, formed in the western Atlantic. As of August 4th, it was located northwest of Bermuda and moving away from the U.S. coast. The NHC forecasts Dexter to track eastward into the Atlantic, becoming post-tropical by Wednesday. Dexter is forecast to strengthen slightly before becoming a post-tropical system by Wednesday. AP Dexter had sustained winds of 45 mph, making it a minimal tropical storm. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said tropical storm Dexter has been formed in the western Atlantic late Sunday, marking the fourth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical storm Dexter developed into a tropical storm overnight and is expected to move away from the United forecasts indicated the storm would track away from the U.S. coast and was not an immediate threat to land. A low pressure system, dubbed as AL95, developed into Tropical Storm Dexter over the western Atlantic late on Aug. 3, the hurricane center said. Dexter is releasing maximum sustained winds near 45 mph and the tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from its center, according to USA Today. ALSO READ: Who is Nancy Mace? Lawmaker who loves ICE detention videos now wants to govern South Carolina The tropical storm is forecast to move away from the U.S. coast and stay north of Bermuda. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect and no hazards to land are of 5 a.m. ET on Aug. 4, the storm was located a few hundred miles northwest of Bermuda and appeared to be moving away from the U.S., according to the hurricane center. The storm is moving about 12 mph and is expected to pick up speed before it starts slowing down on Aug. 5 and 6. "Some slight strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days," the hurricane center said. "Dexter is likely to become post-tropical by Wednesday." ALSO READ: Emergency air quality alert in New York as Canadian wildfire crisis escalates. Here's how you can track and what you should do Dexter is the fourth named storm of 2025 in the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Dexter is not a threat to the U.S. The hurricane center is forecasting the storm to track eastward and deeper into the Atlantic, where it is expected to lose its tropical features by of 4 a.m. CDT Monday, Tropical Storm Dexter was located about 255 miles northwest of Bermuda and was tracking to the east-northeast at 12 had sustained winds of 45 mph, making it a minimal tropical storm. The hurricane center said Dexter could get a bit stronger before losing its tropical features and becoming a post-tropical system on Wednesday. Dexter is no threat to any land areas. ALSO READ: Duke Dennis handcuffed after bizarre mall game in San Antonio. What are the charges against him? A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph – an upgrade from a tropical depression. The NHC said a faster east-northeast or northeast motion is expected to continue through early Tuesday before it begins to slow down on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tropical Storm Dexter's formation comes during what meteorologists predicted to be an above-average hurricane season, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast predicting 13 to 19 named storms in 2025. Last year's hurricane season saw 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and significant devastation—including more than $113 billion in damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
