Wildfire Smoke Impacts Air Quality Across U.S. Cities
Wildfires in Quebec, Canada, are causing significant air quality issues across the United States. The smoke from over 160 forest fires, some ignited by lightning strikes, is moving southward, affecting air quality in major cities such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Columbus, Ohio. On Wednesday, New York City recorded the worst air quality rating globally. Air quality alerts have been issued in 20 states from Missouri to Massachusetts. The fires are fueled by unusually dry and warm weather, and their intensity has surpassed the capacity of water bombers, according to Quebec's wildfire prevention agency. The situation is expected to improve by the weekend as winds change direction, potentially blowing the smoke away from the U.S.