NOW PLAYING
(NEXSTAR) – Wildfires burning in Canada and Minnesota sent smoke blowing over a huge swath of the U.S. on Wednesday, giving the sky an apocalyptic haze. The smoky skies are likely to linger – and even worsen – in the next couple days before there’s a chance of improving.
On Wednesday, the smoke was densest in places like Buffalo, New York, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and eastern Minnesota, according to a forecast by Nexstar meteorologist Darrius Stringer.
Upper-level winds will continue to carry the smoke south and east from the more than 100 fires burning in Canada as we head into Thursday and early Friday. Dense smoke can be expected in New York, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin on Thursday morning. Light to moderate smoke is possible from Philadelphia to Chicago and Minneapolis. (See the full smoke forecast in the video at the top of this story.)
The smoke pushes even further south into more parts of the Midwest, Appalachia and East Coast early Friday as conditions improve a little up north.
“Our major cities are still going to be dealing with some pretty extensively deep smoke,” Stringer said, as he pointed to the forecast for places like Milwaukee, Cleveland and Philadelphia.
The first glimmer of hope comes on Saturday, when there’s a chance of storms and rain in the Northeast and upper Midwest. If those storms materialize, it would help clear the smoke out of the air.
“Maybe by Saturday into Sunday, we start to see those conditions improve,” Stringer said, “but the smoke will continue to linger around for the next several days.”
By Sunday, the forecast shows most states look like they’ll have cleaner air quality. The worst air quality will be relegated to the parts of Minnesota that are along the U.S.-Canada border.
But even that may not be the end of our smoky summer. In Minnesota, officials warned large fires could burn for months.
“It could well be we’re having significant fires throughout the summer until we have snow. Snow would be a good thing,” said Patty Thielen, director of the state Department of Natural Resources.
How dangerous is smoky air?
In some places, thick smoke was combining with extreme heat on Wednesday to make for dangerous breathing conditions outdoors.
The best advice is to stay indoors to avoid both the smoke and the heat, said Tyler Hasenstein, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
“Those two things coinciding with each other is not good from a health perspective,” he said.
High levels of fine particulate matter in the air from wildfire smoke may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as children and people with heart or lung conditions. The particulates can cause shortness of breath, coughing, dizziness or fatigue and aggravate heart and lung diseases and other chronic health issues.
Experts suggest wearing an N95 mask if you have to be outside and keeping your indoor air cleaner by closing windows and running an air purifier or air conditioner.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Add as preferred source on Google TagsCopyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments: Link copiedMore State Watch News
See All
Campaign Bessent on running for Graham Senate seat: ‘No chance’ by Steff Danielle Thomas 18 minutes ago Campaign / 18 minutes ago 
