Canada Wildfire Smoke Triggers US Air Quality Alerts
Smoke from more than 800 wildfires in south-central Canada and Minnesota is spreading across the US. It is affecting air quality from Toronto to New York and the Midwest.
More than 20 US states have issued air quality alerts. New York and New Jersey issued a health alert days before the World Cup final.
Millions of Americans are expected to face unhealthy air this week. The smoke keeps spreading across the region.
Parts of Michigan saw hazardous air quality. Wisconsin and Minnesota reported very unhealthy conditions.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to avoid outdoor activity. Ontario asked Canada's federal government for help on Thursday.
The help is needed to evacuate people from remote northern communities hit by fires. Sources say a heat dome weather pattern is pulling smoke south.
The pattern sits over northern Minnesota and southern Ontario. Canada has seen nearly 3500 fires this summer. The fires have burned more than 4.8 million acres.
Key Terms 3
- air quality alert An official warning that outdoor air may be unhealthy to breathe
- heat dome A weather pattern where hot air stays trapped over an area
- acres A unit for measuring land area