Overview

• Air quality alerts are in effect across more than ten states and the District of Columbia, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Montana, Maryland and Virginia.
• Canada’s wildfire season has burned over 8.6 million acres so far, eclipsing the 6.5 million-acre seasonal average with roughly three months still to run.
• Persistent drought conditions in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, along with ‘overwintering’ blazes from previous seasons, have fueled unusually intense fire growth.
• Health experts warn that fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke poses serious risks to children, older adults and those with respiratory or heart conditions and advise staying indoors, using air purifiers and wearing N95 masks.
• Longer-term forecasts of above-normal temperatures and below-average precipitation across Canada suggest that wildfire activity and cross-border smoke intrusions will continue into mid-summer