Wildfire Smoke from Northwest May Affect Midwest and East Air Quality
Wildfire smoke from large fires in the northwestern U.S. and western Canada is affecting air quality in the region and may spread to the Midwest and East. Currently, almost three dozen large wildfires are burning in areas like Oregon and Washington, exacerbated by extreme heat and lightning strikes. While smoke is present, it is mostly aloft, unlike a previous event where ground-level smoke caused significant air quality issues in the Midwest and Northeast. The current situation may lead to hazy skies and colorful sunsets but is not expected to cause widespread unhealthy air quality.