Tue Aug 05 10:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Canadian Wildfires Send Smoke Blanketing North America, Triggering Air Quality Alerts

**Across North America** – Smoke from raging wildfires in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada, has drifted south, causing widespread air quality concerns across central Canada, the Great Lakes region, and the northeastern United States. Air quality alerts were issued Monday across the Upper Great Lakes and the northeastern United States.

The worst affected areas are small Canadian towns near the blazes, where air quality is considered hazardous. However, a strong haze has also settled over major metropolitan areas farther away, including Milwaukee, Buffalo, Detroit, and Toronto, pushing air quality readings above the unhealthy threshold of 150 in many locations.

“An air quality reading above 150 can create ill effects that might start to be felt even by people who are not in sensitive groups,” reports Judson Jones, a meteorologist and reporter for The Times.

While cities along the East Coast, like New York City, are experiencing hazy skies, air quality remains below levels considered harmful to most. However, National Weather Service forecasters in New York City warned that concentrations could increase Monday afternoon, potentially putting older adults, children, and individuals with heart or lung disease at risk.

While the haze is expected to linger through Tuesday, forecasters predict improving air quality across the region by Wednesday. However, with wildfires still burning and weather patterns subject to change, the same regions may experience future episodes of smoky conditions in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, California is also battling its own fires, including the Gifford Fire, which has consumed over 60,000 acres since Friday, contributing to hazy conditions in the state.

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