CANADA & WESTERN U.S. - Over the weekend, massive wildfires burning across central and western Canada sent thick plumes of smoke into the U.S., with winds pushing hazy skies into parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Cities including Milwaukee, Chicago, Green Bay, and Detroit experienced reduced visibility and declines in air quality from Friday through Sunday.

The fires prompted some of the largest evacuation orders in recent memory for provinces such as Manitoba and Saskatchewan. More than 170 wildfires were reported nationwide, many of them uncontained. In areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin, state officials issued air quality alerts as fine particulate levels reached thresholds considered unhealthy for all residents.

While much of the smoke remained in the upper atmosphere, resulting in vivid sunrises and sunsets, some regions saw temporary air quality impacts at ground level. With forecasts calling for an above-average wildfire season on both sides of the border, AccuWeather reports more smoke-filled days could follow as summer progresses.

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