Canadian wildfire smoke invades a dozen states, spreading hazardous air quality, hazy skies to over 124M
A cold front out of Canada drove the first wave of smoke across those regions Wednesday, creating hazy daytime skies reminiscent of the Mars-like skies that enveloped New York City in June 2023.
Canadian wildfire smoke shrouds Northeast & Midwest, reducing air quality
A massive plume of smoke from wildfires in Canada is lingering over the Northeast and Midwest, with some states reporting hazardous air quality. More than 122 million people are under air quality alerts across a dozen states.
Thick plumes of Canadian wildfire smoke have settled across parts of the Upper Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, bringing orange-tinged, hazy skies and triggering Air Quality Alerts for more than 124 million people.
NEW YORK CITY, UNITED STATES - JULY 15: Smoke from wildfires in Canada is causing poor air quality across New York City on Wednesday and could make it harder to breathe, especially for people with asthma or other health conditions, July 15, 2026, New York City, U.S.
((Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images) / Getty Images)
A recent wildfire outbreak across western Ontario, Canada, and Minnesota is sending thick plumes of smoke toward the Great Lakes and Northeast through Thursday.
THESE MAJOR US CITIES ARE EXPECTED TO SEE THE WORST OF THE CANADIAN WILDFIRE SMOKE
According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, 69 fires are burning out of control in Ontario, mostly in the western part of the province, north of Minnesota.
A cold front out of Canada drove the first wave of smoke across those regions Wednesday, creating hazy daytime skies reminiscent of the Mars-like skies that enveloped New York City in June 2023.
![Orange smoky skies at sunrise in Champlin, Minnesota.]()
Image 1 of 14Orange smoky skies at sunrise in Champlin, Minnesota. (Jon Pittman/JP Drone Solutions)
![Hazy sunrise over Champlin, Minnesota on July 16.]()
Image 2 of 14Hazy sunrise over Champlin, Minnesota on July 16. (Jon Pittman/JP Drone Solutions)
![Smoky skies over Champlin, MN on July 16, 2026.]()
Image 3 of 14Smoky skies over Champlin, MN on July 16, 2026. (Jon Pittman/JP Drone Solutions)
![Orange skies reflect over a lake in Champlin, MN, on July 16.]()
Image 4 of 14Orange skies reflect over a lake in Champlin, MN, on July 16. (Jon Pittman/JP Drone Solutions)
![Hazy sunrise over Champlin, Minnesota on July 16.]()
Image 5 of 14Hazy sunrise over Champlin, Minnesota on July 16. (Jon Pittman/JP Drone Solutions)
![Hazy sunrise over Champlin, Minnesota on July 16.]()
Image 6 of 14Hazy sunrise over Champlin, Minnesota on July 16. (Jon Pittman/JP Drone Solutions)
![Wildfire smoke over Ironwood, Michigan, on July 15, 2026.]()
Image 7 of 14Wildfire smoke over Ironwood, Michigan, on July 15, 2026. (Melissa Korzeniski)
![Smoke fills skies over Minneapolis on July 15, 2026.]()
Image 8 of 14Smoke fills skies over Minneapolis on July 15, 2026. (Dave Schams)
![Smoke-filled sunset in Galena, Ohio, on July 15, 2026.]()
Image 9 of 14Smoke-filled sunset in Galena, Ohio, on July 15, 2026. (Patty Abass)
![Wildfire smoke in Dayton, Ohio, on July 15, 2026.]()
Image 10 of 14Wildfire smoke in Dayton, Ohio, on July 15, 2026. (Brian)
![Hazy orange sun in Massachusetts Tuesday night]()
Image 11 of 14Hazy orange sun in Massachusetts Tuesday night (Erik lowe)
![Bright orange sun in Massachusetts surrounded by a smoky sky Tuesday night]()
Image 12 of 14Bright orange sun in Massachusetts surrounded by a smoky sky Tuesday night (Sandra Centeio)
![Bright red sun surrounded by hazy skies in Vermont, on Tuesday night]()
Image 13 of 14Bright red sun surrounded by hazy skies in Vermont, on Tuesday night (Renae)
![A smoky orange sun in Malone, NY, on Tuesday night]()
Image 14 of 14A smoky orange sun in Malone, NY, on Tuesday night (Cheyenne c)
Air quality issues were compounded by an intense heat dome over the Northeast on Wednesday that brought sweltering temperatures to the region. While the heat is not expected to be as oppressive on Thursday, triple-digit heat indices are expected in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Smoke filled the skies across the Midwest and Northeast metros again Thursday morning.
The Air Quality Index across much of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan ranges from Very Unhealthy to Hazardous.
(FOX Weather)
Unhealthy air quality conditions are spreading across western New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, while Air Quality Alerts extend into New York and New England.
The biggest declines in air quality are expected where the thickest smoke concentrates near the ground.
"Under the thickest bands of the plume, reduced visibility is possible, and air quality will likely become very unhealthy," the FOX Forecast Center said.
(FOX Weather)
Winds are expected to carry more smoke east and south through the day on Thursday, with thicker smoke pushing into the Interstate 95 corridor from Boston through New York City and Philadelphia.
WHAT TO DO WHEN WILDFIRE SMOKE SMOTHERS YOUR AREA AND HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOME'S AIR CLEAN
Wildfire smoke is expected to linger across much of the region through Saturday before another cold front clears the smoke from the eastern U.S.
2023 FILE PHOTO: Orange haze over New York City on June 7, 2023.
(FOX Weather)
"The overall severity of the smoke remains unclear, but there are some early indications that, if we take the computer forecast models at face value, the concentration of smoke would be comparable to the infamous June 2023 event," the FOX Forecast Center said.