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3d ago

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Descends on Midwest and Ottawa, Prompting Unhealthy Air Alerts

Forecast models show smoke settling over the region through the weekend, with vulnerable residents urged to stay indoors

Wildfire smoke (brownish colors) blankets much of the Central and Eastern U.S. on May 31, 2025. (Image credit: NOAA/CIRA/Colorado State University)
People watch as fire burns along Hatwai Road Saturday, May 31, 2025, in north Lewiston, Idaho. (August Frank/Lewiston Tribune via AP)
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Overview

  • Air quality alerts remain in effect across the Upper Midwest, with Chicago, Lansing and Grand Rapids recording “unhealthy” levels on the EPA’s AirNow index.
  • Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements for Toronto and Ottawa, forecasting Ottawa’s Air Quality Health Index to hit 7, or “high,” early Friday morning.
  • Fine particulate matter from the wildfires can trigger lung inflammation and heighten risks of heart attacks, strokes and respiratory distress, say health experts.
  • Vulnerable populations—children, seniors, pregnant people and those with chronic conditions—are advised to stay indoors, keep windows closed and limit outdoor exertion.
  • Meteorologists predict persistent smoke through the weekend, extending air quality alerts eastward and maintaining health advisories for several days.