Wildfire Smoke from Northwest Fires May Affect Midwest and East
Wildfire smoke from large fires in the northwestern United States and western Canada is causing poor air quality in nearby areas and may spread to the Midwest and East Coast in the coming days (weather.com, 2026-07-23). As of July 23, 2026, nearly three dozen large wildfires are burning in the northwestern U.S., particularly in Oregon and Washington, triggered by thunderstorms and extreme heat over drought-stricken areas. Thousands of lightning strikes have been recorded in Oregon alone in recent days. While smoke from these fires has already reached parts of the central and eastern U.S., it is expected to remain mostly aloft, leading to hazy skies and colorful sunsets rather than widespread ground-level air quality issues. 
