Wildfire Smoke Triggers Air Quality Alerts Across Midwest and Northeast
Smoke from large wildfires in Canada and Minnesota is prompting air quality alerts for multiple states, exposing millions to hazardous fine particulate pollution.
Heavy smoke from several wildfires burning in Canada and Minnesota is expected to blanket large portions of the Midwest and Northeast this week, raising concerns about hazardous air quality for millions of residents.
Minnesota officials issued an air-quality alert from Tuesday through Friday for the Twin Cities metro area, Alexandria, Two Harbors and the state's northeastern corner, where particulate levels could reach hazardous thresholds. Governor Tim Walz extended a peacetime emergency by 30 days as the fires continue.
Michigan’s environmental agency placed the entire state under an air-quality alert on Wednesday, while Wisconsin issued similar warnings. In New York, multiple counties in the western and central regions were placed under an advisory, and New York City received alerts for Wednesday and Thursday.
Massachusetts declared a statewide alert after a large plume of smoke drifted into the Boston area, turning the sky brown-yellow. The National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, noted hazy conditions and warned of continued smoke until a cold front arrives.
Meteorologist Tyler Hasenstein of the National Weather Service in Chanhassen, Minnesota, said intense smoke is expected to spread across the East Coast and Midwest by Wednesday afternoon, potentially reaching Washington, D.C., by Thursday midday.
"Severe drought conditions combined with heat in Canada and the U.S. have created a perfect storm for really dry conditions to provide a lot of fuel for these wildfires to burn," said Dan Westervelt, associate professor at Columbia University's Climate School.
"Those two things coinciding with each other is not good from a health perspective," Hasenstein added.
Health officials advise people to stay indoors, limit outdoor activity, use N95 masks when necessary, and keep windows closed while running air purifiers or air conditioners. Fine particulate pollution from wildfire smoke can cause respiratory irritation and exacerbate heart and lung conditions, and long-term exposure is linked to premature mortality.