Air quality alerts due to wildfire smoke from Canada have been issued in several US states, including Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Wildfires in Canada have burned over 1.6 million acres, leading to toxic smoke drifting southward. Meteorologists expect smoke to blanket regions from the Plains to the East Coast, with the heaviest concentrations over the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Iowa. Safety warnings include reducing outdoor activity and keeping windows closed. The current air quality situation is described as less severe than the previous year when similar wildfires drastically affected skies in the Northeast.
The National Weather service urged Americans in the effect states to 'keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning.'
AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said: 'Most of the time, the smoke will be high-flying and dim the sun, leading to vivid sunrises and sunsets and causing a hazy appearance to the sky overhead.'
More than 160 wildfires across Canada have burned more than 1.6 million acres, prompting evacuations for more than 17,000 people.
While officials urge Americans to stay prepared, they note the current situation is less hazardous than in 2023, when Canadian wildfires turned skies across the Northeast a hazy orange.
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