Air quality improving in northeast, while wildfire smoke hangs over midwest
Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota continues to impact air quality across the U.S. Midwest and Northeast. While conditions are improving in the D.C. area, officials warn that pollution levels remain elevated as the smoke shifts toward Chicago and surrounding regions.
Why it matters
Persistent wildfire smoke poses significant public health risks and disrupts major events, highlighting the ongoing environmental impact of climate-related forest fires.
WASHINGTON — Poor air quality persisted in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states on Saturday, as smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Minnesota and Canada continued to spread and envelop skylines. The National Weather Service (NWS) said heavy rain and storms could help clear the air in the northeast and mid-Atlantic this weekend, while dangerous levels of air pollution will still hang over the Midwest.
"As we start clearing out here in the east, they're going to get the next batch of smoke later this afternoon into tonight across areas from upper Michigan, eastern Wisconsin, into Illinois and Indiana, including Chicago," NWS Forecaster Brian Hurley told NPR. "That will continue through [Sunday], unfortunately."
Major League Baseball postponed Friday's game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians due to poor air quality in Cleveland until Saturday.
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