Canada Wildfire Smoke Clears

Storms may clear New Jersey smoke before the World Cup final, but Midwest alerts linger.

•Balanced

Air quality alert for Chicago extended through Monday as wildfire smoke from Canada lingers

How to keep the air inside your home clean during wildfires

Chicago sees slight air quality improvement, but hazardous conditions expected to return Sunday

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Thunderstorms are expected to clear much of the smoke from the New Jersey area before Sunday’s World Cup final, but unhealthy-air warnings continued in parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic and Illinois extended an Air Pollution Action Day through Monday. Smoke from nearly 850 active wildfires in Canada, including more than 180 in Ontario, plus fires in Minnesota has pushed into the Midwest, Great Lakes, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. More than 100 million people have faced air-quality alerts, with officials urging residents to stay indoors, limit exertion and use masks or filtered air.

Day 5

Latest update · Jul 20

Thunderstorms are expected to clear most wildfire smoke from the New Jersey area before Sunday’s World Cup final in East Rutherford, though unhealthy-air warnings remained in parts of the Northeast. Farther west, Illinois extended its Air Pollution Action Day through Monday, with particulate pollution forecast to reach or exceed “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” in nearly all state air-quality sectors. The smoke from nearly 850 active Canadian fires, including more than 180 in Ontario, and some Minnesota fires has spread across the Midwest, Great Lakes, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, disrupting beaches, events and sports and prompting stay-inside guidance for more than 100 million people.

Analysis & opinion

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Climate-driven firesLeans Left

Climate change and climate extremes are making wildfires more severe, harder to control, and more likely to send smoke across long distances. Warming-driven fires are becoming a recurring public-health danger for communities and cities across North America.

Widespread smoke hazardLeft & Center

Canadian wildfire smoke is spreading across large parts of the United States and northeastern North America, pushing air quality into unhealthy or dangerous ranges. The smoke is a public-health threat, especially in places seeing severe pollution spikes and lingering haze.

Indoor filtrationLeft & Center

Air purifiers and good filtration can cut indoor particle pollution from wildfire smoke and other pollutants when they are chosen and used correctly. Lab-tested purifier recommendations point people toward devices that are likely to make indoor air cleaner, though filtration is only one part of protection.