Air quality to improve across Eastern US as storms choke out wildfire smoke
The FOX Forecast Center said the smoke is likely not gone for the long run, especially in the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes, as another cold front sweeping through the area early next week also brings the chance of smoke coming back.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires continue to grip Midwest, Northeast
Wildfire smoke from raging Canadian wildfires has plagued much of the northern U.S. all week, bringing air quality to hazardous levels in the Upper Midwest and "very unhealthy" levels in the Northeast. Now relief may be on the way. FOX Weather Meteorologists Nick Kosir and Melanie Black have the latest.
Saturday seems to be the end to a smoky week for most of the eastern U.S., as severe storms move into the region for the weekend.
Wildfire smoke from raging Canadian wildfires has plagued much of the northern U.S. all week, bringing air quality to hazardous levels in the Upper Midwest and "very unhealthy" levels in the Northeast.
More than 125 million Americans in 18 states are still under Air Quality Alerts on Saturday, but the smoke is beginning to shift out of the country.
(FOX Weather)
In the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
A warm front positioned south of the Mid-Atlantic is the main boundary keeping smoke trapped along the Interstate 95 corridor into New England early Saturday.
As the day continues, the front will attach itself to a weak area of low pressure and move north.
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As it moves north, dense smoke is quickly going to shift as southerly winds behind the front usher in a cleaner mass of air.
(FOX Weather)
Major cities, including Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia, will begin to see clearer skies.
New York City is expected to remain hazy until the warm front fully passes through the area.
The front will bring the final wave of smoke before storms return across the region along a cold front later on Saturday, the FOX Forecast Center said.
![Hazy sunrise over Champlin, Minnesota on July 16.]()
Image 1 of 13Hazy sunrise over Champlin, Minnesota on July 16. (Jon Pittman/JP Drone Solutions)
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: Haze from Canadian wildfires blankets the Manhattan skyline as seen from a Staten Island Ferry on July 16, 2026 in New York City. Much of the East Coast and Canada is under an Air Quality Health Advisory as the Canadian and Great Lakes wildfire smoke gradually moves through the area, creating a thick haze in the heat. The region is experiencing temperatures with heat indexes over 100 degrees as it confronts another heat wave.Ahead Of World Cup Final, NYC Metro Area Under Smoky Skies Due To Canadian Wildfires.]()
Image 2 of 13NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: Haze from Canadian wildfires blankets the Manhattan skyline as seen from a Staten Island Ferry on July 16, 2026 in New York City. Much of the East Coast and Canada is under an Air Quality Health Advisory as the Canadian and Great Lakes wildfire smoke gradually moves through the area, creating a thick haze in the heat. The region is experiencing temperatures with heat indexes over 100 degrees as it confronts another heat wave.Ahead Of World Cup Final, NYC Metro Area Under Smoky Skies Due To Canadian Wildfires. (David Ramos)
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: Haze from Canadian wildfires blankets the Statue of Liberty as seen from a Staten Island Ferry on July 16, 2026 in New York City. Much of the East Coast and Canada is under an Air Quality Health Advisory as the Canadian and Great Lakes wildfire smoke gradually moves through the area, creating a thick haze in the heat. The region is experiencing temperatures with heat indexes over 100 degrees as it confronts another heat wave.Ahead Of World Cup Final, NYC Metro Area Under Smoky Skies Due To Canadian Wildfires.]()
Image 3 of 13NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: Haze from Canadian wildfires blankets the Statue of Liberty as seen from a Staten Island Ferry on July 16, 2026 in New York City. Much of the East Coast and Canada is under an Air Quality Health Advisory as the Canadian and Great Lakes wildfire smoke gradually moves through the area, creating a thick haze in the heat. The region is experiencing temperatures with heat indexes over 100 degrees as it confronts another heat wave.Ahead Of World Cup Final, NYC Metro Area Under Smoky Skies Due To Canadian Wildfires. (David Ramos)
![CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 16: A couple walks along Lake Michigan as smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets the city on July 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. City officials have encouraged people to stay inside as the air quality index today in the city has been rated "very unhealthy", with some nearby suburban areas rated "hazardous".]()
Image 4 of 13CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 16: A couple walks along Lake Michigan as smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets the city on July 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. City officials have encouraged people to stay inside as the air quality index today in the city has been rated "very unhealthy", with some nearby suburban areas rated "hazardous". (Scott Olson)
![CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 16: People cool off along Lake Michigan as smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets the city on July 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. City officials have encouraged people to stay inside as the air quality index today in the city has been rated "very unhealthy", with some nearby suburban areas rated "hazardous".]()
Image 5 of 13CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 16: People cool off along Lake Michigan as smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets the city on July 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. City officials have encouraged people to stay inside as the air quality index today in the city has been rated "very unhealthy", with some nearby suburban areas rated "hazardous". (Scott Olson)
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: Haze from Canadian wildfires blankets the Manhattan buildings, including the Empire State Building, on July 16, 2026 in New York City. Much of the East Coast and Canada is under an Air Quality Health Advisory as the Canadian and Great Lakes wildfire smoke gradually moves through the area, creating a thick haze in the heat. The region is experiencing temperatures with heat indexes over 100 degrees as it confronts another heat wave.]()
Image 6 of 13NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: Haze from Canadian wildfires blankets the Manhattan buildings, including the Empire State Building, on July 16, 2026 in New York City. Much of the East Coast and Canada is under an Air Quality Health Advisory as the Canadian and Great Lakes wildfire smoke gradually moves through the area, creating a thick haze in the heat. The region is experiencing temperatures with heat indexes over 100 degrees as it confronts another heat wave. (David Ramos)
![A CTA âLâ Green Line train runs through haze from Canadian wildfires on the West Side of Chicago, July 16, 2026, in the Austin neighborhood.]()
Image 7 of 13Green Line train runs through haze from Canadian wildfires on the West Side of Chicago, July 16, 2026, in the Austin neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service)
![CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 16: An aerial shows smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketing the city on July 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.]()
Image 8 of 13CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 16: An aerial shows smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketing the city on July 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Scott Olson)
![Hazy sunrise over Champlin, Minnesota on July 16.]()
Image 9 of 13Hazy sunrise over Champlin, Minnesota on July 16. (Jon Pittman/JP Drone Solutions)
![Hazy sunrise over Champlin, Minnesota on July 16.]()
Image 10 of 13Hazy sunrise over Champlin, Minnesota on July 16. (Jon Pittman/JP Drone Solutions)
![Orange smoky skies at sunrise in Champlin, Minnesota.]()
Image 11 of 13Orange smoky skies at sunrise in Champlin, Minnesota. (Jon Pittman/JP Drone Solutions)
![Smoky skies over Champlin, MN on July 16, 2026.]()
Image 12 of 13Smoky 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 13 of 13Orange skies reflect over a lake in Champlin, MN, on July 16. (Jon Pittman/JP Drone Solutions)
In the Midwest and Great Lakes
The Great Lakes and Midwest will also see some smoke clearing as storms move in with a cold front.
The cold front will be part of a larger low-pressure system moving through Canada. As it extends across the region, it will not only sweep a large chunk of the remaining smoke away but will bring severe weather as well.
(FOX Weather)
Is the smoke gone for good?
The FOX Forecast Center said the smoke is likely not gone for the long run, especially in the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes, as another cold front sweeping through the area early next week also brings the chance of smoke coming back.
Winds will shift back out of the north on Sunday, keeping unhealthy air in the mix for places like Marquette, Michigan, and surrounding areas in Wisconsin.
Wildfires to the north in Canada have seen some rain, which has limited smoke production, on the bright side.
All in all, air quality and smoke should not be nearly as bad as it has been over the past couple of days.