CRUCIAL QUOTE
“Folks – remember in 2023 when parts of the Northeast saw the skies turn orange? That may happen again,” meteorologist Matthew Cappucci warned in a tweet. “It may be time to break out the N95 masks – you don’t want to breathe in all these microscopic aerosols and particulates.”
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What to watch for
How far the smoke spreads. It’s expected to filter further into the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest through Friday and could reach New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Boston by Thursday morning.
BIG NUMBER
130,000 acres. That’s the size of the largest out-of-control wildfire in western Ontario, on the northern shores of Lake Superior, pushing smoke into the United States.
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KEY BACKGROUND
Canadian wildfire smoke has affected the U.S. for decades, but the scale and frequency of major smoke events have increased in recent years. Hotter, drier conditions in Canada have contributed to larger and more intense wildfire seasons and, in 2023, smoke from record-breaking Canadian wildfires blanketed much of the eastern and central U.S. Those fires brought hazardous air quality from the Midwest to the East Coast and caused New York City to briefly record some of the worst air pollution in the world. Scientists say climate change has increased the likelihood of extreme fire weather in Canada and, when weather patterns permit, smoke can be carried deep into the U.S. Wildfire smoke is composed of water vapor, pollutants and particulate matter, which can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream. The smoke has been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular health problems, with children and teenagers, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with pre-existing heart or lung conditions at a particular risk.
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further reading
ForbesGlobal Air Quality Declines As Wildfires Surge Across ContinentsBy Jamie HailstoneForbesCanadian Wildfires Are Raging—3 Reasons Why That’s A ProblemBy Marshall ShepherdForbesHow Wildfires Are Torching The Home Insurance IndustryBy Phil De Luna