Smoke from the wildfires in Canada has been impacting parts of the United States and even traveled across the Atlantic to Europe, as shown by satellite images from NASA, CBS News reported.
Expected Forecast For The Wildfire Smoke
The forecast for the wildfire smoke is as follows:
Several cities in the Midwest, including Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit, experienced very unhealthy levels of smoke, contributing to some of the worst air quality in the world. Areas to the East and South of these cities had moderate air quality.
The smoke is being carried by the jet stream, which flows from west to east. Meteorologists attribute the early and extreme start of the fire season in Canada to unusually high temperatures.
An interactive map from NOAA displays the dense smoke swirling across the U.S., with southeastward movement towards Washington, D.C., and northward flow towards Buffalo. Less dense smoke is also observed heading toward cities like Philadelphia and New York.
Based on data from NOAA, the EPA, and others, an interactive map of particle pollution levels revealed unhealthy air quality in the northeastern quadrant of the country, with patches of very unhealthy air. Pittsburgh experienced a very unhealthy air quality level, while areas in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia were under air quality alerts. Buffalo and Detroit also faced unhealthy conditions.
New York issued air quality health advisories for certain areas, warning of potential spikes in the Air Quality Index. Washington, D.C. was expected to be affected by the smoke, while the severity in New York and Philadelphia remained uncertain, although the possibility of increased smoke into Friday morning was mentioned.
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Amount Of Wildfire Smoke
The amount of smoke reaching the U.S. depends on factors such as wind direction, wind speeds, density variations in the smoke, and atmospheric stability.
The Midwest is anticipated to receive another batch of smoke on Thursday, with little improvement expected unless the Canadian fire situation significantly changes or there is a shift in atmospheric circulation.
NASA reported that the smoke from Canadian wildfires had reached southwestern Europe, including Portugal and Spain, and had potentially spread even further. Similar smoke dispersion has been observed in previous instances, such as the West Coast wildfires in 2017 and the Australian brushfires in 2020.
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