Dangerous wildfire smoke continues to blanket parts of the U.S.
Wildfires in Canada are causing hazardous air quality across the U.S. Great Lakes and Northeast regions. Experts attribute the severity and frequency of these events to climate change and prolonged heat waves.
Why it matters
Widespread smoke exposure poses significant public health risks, as fine particulate matter can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream.
Heavy smoke continues to spread across the Great Lakes region into New England and as far south as Maryland, leading to unhealthy and even hazardous air quality in a number of states .
The combination of extreme heat and dry conditions in Ontario and northern Minnesota led to significant spread of wildfires on July 13 . More than 800 wildfires are actively burning in Canada, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System .
Record breaking temperatures created a heat dome across western Ontario and Minnesota with some places reaching over 100 degrees. This allowed fires to continue on an "unprecedented run," said Derek Mallia, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Utah.
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