This week, smoke from Canadian wildfires has blanketed Chicago and much of the Upper Midwest. By Wednesday morning, air quality warnings are in effect for Pittsburgh, Pennaysvia, and Rochester, New York, as the smoke is being blown into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.
After weeks of smoke relief, metro areas from Washington, DC to Baltimore to Philadelphia to New York City will receive another blast of toxic smoky haze from Canadian wildfires.
On Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul said, "We're expecting smoke and haze to come all across the state." However, the potential intensity of the smoke wasn't clear, but air quality maps tweeted by the governor this morning show unhealthy air quality in Western New York, Central New York, and the Eastern Lake Ontario regions.
We’re already seeing unhealthy air quality in Western New York, Central New York and the Eastern Lake Ontario regions.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) June 28, 2023
If you’re heading out for the day, especially if you’re in a vulnerable group, check the latest air quality information and take steps to protect yourself. pic.twitter.com/FZO5Qc6xWW
Smoke forecast maps via The New York Times show the polluted air is expected to arrive in major Mid-Atlantic and Northeast metro areas this afternoon.
According to AirNow.gov, unhealthy air conditions have been reported as far east as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Bryan Jackson, a forecaster with the Weather Prediction Center, told Bloomberg the reason for the smoke shifting to the east is a weather pattern that brought rain across the Northeast is moving out, forcing wind from north to south. This will allow Canada's wildfire smoke to move south.
Fox News Weather explains more about the wildfire smoke pouring into the US.
Canadian wildfire smoke is pouring into the U.S., leaving 93M under air quality alerts.
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) June 28, 2023
FOX Weather meteorologist @JasonFrazerTV has the latest. #AirQuality #AirQualityAlert pic.twitter.com/ROlPBxjQbb
NOAA's weather satellites captured the "grayish smoke" plume drifting across the US.
.@NOAA's #GOESEast 🛰️ is tracking a large amount of grayish smoke from Canadian #wildfires drifting across the U.S. this morning.
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) June 28, 2023
Numerous #AirQuality Alerts are in effect from the Great Lakes to the East Coast.
Get the latest: https://t.co/wJGBXDcNu2 pic.twitter.com/sx3b3w4X7W
The smoke has even spread across the Atlantic into Europe.
💨 Wildfire smoke from Canada will overspread western Europe in the coming days - from Portugal & Spain to France, Ireland & southern England...
— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) June 26, 2023
Most of this will be lofted high in the atmosphere, causing some unique sun rises & sun sets but not affecting air quality. pic.twitter.com/0gOyq2g5Rw
For those of us residing on the East Coast, brace yourselves for another round of smoke.