Most wildfires are burning out of control, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System.
A large cluster of fires affecting northwestern Ontario is causing thick plumes of smoke and poor air quality across Thunder Bay and Toronto, with lower concentrations of smoke in the air moving over the Great Lakes and over New York, potentially causing hazy skies and redder sunrises and sunsets.
In Western New York, air quality was deemed “very poor” Thursday, second only to “hazardous,” while air quality in the New York City metropolitan area was rated “unhealthy.”
On Wednesday, New York extended its heat emergency plan and activated air quality emergency protocols. This has made hundreds of cooling centers and KN95 masks available across the city.
Ontario is expected to see some fairly widespread thunderstorms over the next few days, but the rain may not be enough to make a big difference.
Northwest winds will continue to blow smoke into the northern United States for the rest of the week and into the weekend, raising concerns that the smoke may drift into New Jersey, where Sunday’s World Cup final will be played.
As the wind direction changes by Monday, smoke will tend to head across Quebec and air quality will improve further south into the country.
