Smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets U.S. with unhealthy air, reaches Europe

Smoke from intense wildfires burning across Canada has spread thick haze over parts of the US Midwest, causing “very unhealthy” air quality in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan on Tuesday.

 Over 27,000 Canadians have been forced to evacuate their homes as the fires rage through three provinces, with the smoke plume even drifting all the way to Europe.

In Minneapolis-St. Paul, the smell of smoke hung heavy despite morning rain, prompting the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to issue a statewide alert through Wednesday. The worst air conditions were concentrated around the Twin Cities, but officials expect the smoke to clear by midday Wednesday.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources warned that much of the state could face unhealthy air until Thursday morning, urging vulnerable groups—especially those with lung or heart problems—to limit outdoor activity and take frequent breaks when outside.

The smoky haze extends beyond the Midwest, reaching as far east as Michigan, west to the Dakotas and Nebraska, and southeast to Georgia. The EPA’s AirNow monitoring system showed air quality in Minneapolis-St. Paul hitting “very unhealthy” levels, while large areas of eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin recorded “unhealthy” air.

Local hospitals have reported more patients with breathing problems linked to the smoke. Pulmonologist Dr. Rachel Strykowski said wildfire smoke worsens symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, especially for people with asthma or COPD. She recommended staying indoors and using N95 masks, which are effective at filtering out fine particles.

Most of the smoke originates from fires northwest of Winnipeg, Manitoba, where thousands have evacuated, including entire communities in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The fires have already claimed two lives near Winnipeg in mid-May.

The wildfire smoke has traveled high into the atmosphere, carried by jet streams all the way across the Atlantic to Europe. Though it creates hazy skies there, it is not expected to impact surface air quality. Scientists say this shows just how powerful and extensive the Canadian wildfires have become. Carbon emissions from the fires are nearing record levels last seen in 2023.

As wildfires continue, authorities in North America urge people to stay informed and take precautions to protect their health from the dangerous smoke.

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