Thick smoke from a cluster of wildfires in western Ontario, Canada, and Minnesota is forecast to drift into the United States, creating extremely poor air quality across the Great Lakes and Northeast regions through Thursday.
According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, 32 wildfires ignited across western Ontario on Monday, with 46 fires burning out of control in the province. Simultaneously, several fires intensified in northern Minnesota amid a heat dome contributing to record temperatures in the Northern Plains.
A shift in wind direction over the next 24 to 36 hours is expected to push heavy concentrations of smoke into the U.S. Lower 48. The FOX Forecast Center indicated that the smoke plume will likely cause milky, hazy skies over the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes starting Wednesday morning. The most significant degradation in air quality is anticipated where smoke gathers close to the ground, potentially reducing visibility and leading to very unhealthy air conditions.
While much of the smoke is predicted to remain at higher altitudes, there is a possibility of a 6-to-8-hour window with ground-level smoke. This plume is projected to travel toward the Interstate 95 corridor, reaching cities like Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia by Wednesday evening.
Air quality concerns may be exacerbated in the Northeast as a heat dome intensifies, bringing near-record temperatures to the region. Early indications suggest the severity of the smoke could rival that experienced during the significant haze event in June 2023. State agencies have already issued Air Quality Alerts for parts of northeastern Minnesota, advising residents to limit outdoor activities.