Air quality alerts are in effect across at least 17 U.S. states as dangerous smoke from over 180 wildfires burning in Canada drifts into the United States, extending as far south as Virginia and affecting major cities like Detroit and Minneapolis, which reported some of the worst air quality globally on Thursday.
In Detroit, Michigan, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached approximately 600 on Thursday morning, a level considered hazardous, which begins at 300. Minneapolis, Minnesota, also experienced extremely hazardous air quality. The smoke plumes are traveling more than a thousand miles from their source in Canada.
The current smoky conditions are expected to persist and move eastward, impacting the Northeast. New York City could experience orange skies on Thursday due to the density of the smoke.
By Friday morning, the smoke is projected to shift further south, affecting areas including Ohio, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Baltimore throughout the day. Nine large fires are also burning in northern Minnesota, contributing to the widespread air quality concerns.