Storms Expected to Displace Canadian Wildfire Smoke Across Eastern United States
Severe storms moving into the Northeast and Midwest on Saturday are expected to push out lingering Canadian wildfire smoke, improving air quality for millions of residents.
Saturday will likely mark the end of a week of poor air quality in much of the eastern United States as a warm front and accompanying storm system move through the region. Smoke from Canadian wildfires has driven hazardous air conditions in the Upper Midwest and very unhealthy levels in the Northeast, prompting alerts for more than 125 million people across 18 states.
A warm front situated south of the Mid-Atlantic has kept smoke trapped along the I-95 corridor. As the front merges with a weak low-pressure area and advances northward, southerly winds are expected to bring cleaner air to major cities such as Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia, while New York City may remain hazy until the front fully passes.
Further west, a cold front tied to a larger low-pressure system moving across Canada will sweep the Great Lakes and Midwest, dispersing remaining smoke and bringing the potential for severe weather. The forecast center noted that the smoke may return to parts of the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes early next week when another cold front arrives.
Rainfall in the Canadian fire zones has reduced smoke production, which should help improve air quality in the coming days.