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Smoke From Far-Away Wildfires Turns Big City Skies Orange
Quick Summary
Hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada and northern Minnesota are sending huge clouds of smoke hundreds of miles south this week. The smoke is creating hazy orange skies from the Great Lakes all the way to New York City and Boston. Scientists and meteorologists are tracking the smoke and helping people stay safe.
What Happened?
This week, the skies above cities like Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, New York, and Boston turned an eerie shade of orange. The culprit? Wildfire smoke traveling a very long distance from the north.
More than 800 wildfires are burning across Canada right now, mostly in Ontario and other forested provinces. About 20 more fires are burning in the Boundary Waters area of northern Minnesota. Together, these fires are sending enormous plumes of smoke into the air.
Wind patterns this week are carrying that smoke toward the southeast — directly into the Midwest, Great Lakes region, and the northeastern United States. Air quality alerts are in place across many states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, and others.
So how does smoke travel so far? When a big fire burns, it sends tiny particles — much smaller than a grain of sand — high into the air. Wind picks up those particles and carries them like invisible passengers, sometimes for hundreds or even thousands of miles. Scientists call these tiny particles PM2.5, because they are 2.5 micrometers wide. That is about 30 times thinner than a single human hair. Because they are so small, they can slip deep into your lungs when you breathe.
Scientists say a combination of unusual heat and drought has made this summer’s fire season especially active in Canada. Very dry forests act like kindling — easy for fires to start and grow.
Meteorologits expect the smoke to be most intense through Thursday. Good news: rain is forecast for Friday over the Midwest and Saturday in the Northeast, which should help clear the air.
Why Does It Matter?
Smoke from wildfires is not just something you see in the sky. When the air has a lot of smoke particles, breathing it in can make people feel tired, cause coughing, and bother eyes, noses, and throats. It can be especially tricky for people with asthma or allergies.
The best things to do during smoky air days are: stay indoors as much as possible, keep windows closed, and run an air purifier or air conditioner if you have one. If you need to go outside, an N95 mask can help filter out the tiny particles.
The good news is that scientists, meteorologists, and air quality agencies are watching the smoke around the clock. They issue alerts so people know when to take extra care. Weather forecasters are also tracking when rain will arrive to wash the particles out of the air.
This kind of long-distance smoke is a reminder of how connected our air, weather, and forests really are. A fire in the forests of Canada can affect the air kids breathe in New York or Boston just days later.
Big Words
- Wildfire — a large, fast-moving fire that burns through forests, grasslands, or dry land, often started by lightning or extreme heat
- Air quality alert — an official warning from scientists and government agencies that the air may be unhealthy to breathe, especially for sensitive groups
- PM2.5 — tiny smoke and pollution particles that are 2.5 micrometers wide — about 30 times thinner than a single human hair — small enough to travel deep into the lungs
- Meteorologist — a scientist who studies the weather and atmosphere, and helps predict things like rain, wind, and where smoke will travel
- Drought — a long stretch of time with very little rain, leaving soil and plants very dry and making wildfires more likely to start and spread
Fun Fact
Wildfire smoke can travel so far that in 2023, smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted all the way across the Atlantic Ocean and was detected in parts of Europe — thousands of miles from where the fires were burning!
Think About It
If smoke from a faraway wildfire can affect the air in a city hundreds of miles away, what does that tell us about how connected Earth’s air and weather systems really are?
Sources
- CBS News — ‘Wildfires expose millions in Midwest, Northeast to dangerous smoke’
- CNN — ‘Dangerous smoke from Canadian wildfires moves into the Great Lakes and Northeast’
- ABC News — ‘Canadian wildfire smoke descends on parts of US, including New York City’
- NBC News / Associated Press — ‘Wildfires expose millions in the Midwest and Northeast to dangerous smoke’