Dangerous wildfire smoke originating from Canada is affecting air quality in more than a dozen U.S. states, stretching from the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region eastward to New England and south through the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Air quality alerts are in effect across these areas as northwesterly winds carry a plume of smoke.
More than 900 wildfires are currently burning across Canada, contributing to the widespread haze. A storm system moving through the affected regions on Saturday could offer some relief by helping to clear the air.
Severe Weather Outlook
Simultaneously, a significant threat of severe storms is forecast for parts of the Ohio Valley, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe weather in these areas. Major metropolitan centers along the Interstate 95 corridor, including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., may experience strong storms. Cities such as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Buffalo are also expected to face hazardous weather conditions.
The anticipated rounds of showers and storms carry the potential for damaging winds, hail, isolated tornadoes, and localized flash flooding due to heavy rainfall. Flood watches have been issued for portions of the Northeast, encompassing New York City and Philadelphia, through Saturday evening.
In other regions, monsoonal moisture is predicted to influence weather patterns from West Texas and southern New Mexico into central and northern Arizona and southern Utah. Daytime heating in these areas could trigger thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
A risk of severe storms also extends into parts of Virginia and the Carolinas. Scattered storms in these states could bring damaging winds and heavy rainfall to cities including Charlotte, Raleigh, and Virginia Beach.