Wildfire Smoke from Canada and Minnesota Expected to Deteriorate Air Quality Across Great Lakes and Northeast

Smoke from a series of wildfires in western Ontario, Canada, and northern Minnesota is expected to travel eastward, creating hazy conditions and hazardous air quality across the Great Lakes and the Northeast through Thursday. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported 32 new fires in western Ontario on Monday, adding to 46 existing wildfires in the province, while several fires in northern Minnesota have intensified under a heat dome that is driving record temperatures in the Northern Plains.

Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency has issued air quality alerts for communities including Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely and the Grand Portage Tribal Nation, advising residents to limit outdoor activity. The Fox Forecast Center warned that a shift in wind direction over the next 24-36 hours will push dense smoke into the Lower 48, producing milky skies over the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes by Wednesday morning.

"Under the thickest bands of the plume, reduced visibilities are possible, and air quality will likely become very unhealthy if the latest computer forecast models are correct," the forecast center said.

"While much of the smoke is forecast to remain elevated high in the atmosphere, there is a growing signal that there could be a 6-8 hour window with smoke close to the ground," the center added.

The plume is projected to reach the Interstate 95 corridor by Wednesday evening, affecting cities such as Boston, New York City and Philadelphia. Elevated temperatures from the heat dome are expected to compound air-quality concerns in the region.