Canadian wildfire smoke lingers across Plains, East
Air quality has improved to "moderate" across much of Minnesota and North Dakota, with pockets of unhealthy air quality lingering in eastern South Dakota.
Time-lapse shows Canadian wildfire smoke, haze over Chicago
Time-lapse shows Canadian wildfire smoke and haze over Chicago on Wednesday, June 4.
MINNEAPOLIS – Smoke originating from wildfires raging across several Canadian provinces is slowly improving across the northern Plains and eastern U.S. on Friday.
Air quality alerts were up for millions in Minnesota and Wisconsin and even into the Northeast, including New York City earlier this week.

(FOX Weather)
Since then, air quality has improved to "moderate" across much of Minnesota and North Dakota, with pockets of unhealthy air quality lingering in eastern South Dakota. Air quality also remained moderate in the eastern U.S. Friday.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIREFIGHTERS MAKE PROGRESS ON RANCH FIRE MONTHS AFTER DESTRUCTIVE LINE FIRE
Smoke will continue to funnel down ahead of and behind any cold front that moves through the region. Mid-level winds will transport smoke aloft across most of the East.
While locations in the East have not experienced the level of health hazards that the Upper Midwest did, some very sensitive health groups could be affected. Locations in the East will also experience hazy skies and more vibrant sunrises and sunsets.

Hazy sunrise in Glen Burnie, Maryland on June 13, 2025.
(@timbutz70/X / FOX Weather)