Ontario Wildfires Send Smoke Across North America

Why it matters locally: While most impacts to air quality will affect the lower 48 states and Canada, the extensive reach of wildfire smoke plumes means Alaskans, particularly those in southcentral and interior regions, may experience hazy skies and reduced air quality as these large-scale weather phenomena can transport smoke over vast distances.

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Wildfires burning in Ontario have generated smoke plumes that have traveled across large areas of North America, impacting air quality in cities across Canada and the United States. Investigators have utilized satellite data to track the movement of these smoke masses. The data showed smoke originating from Ontario's wildfires spreading hundreds of miles from their source. Cities in both Canadian and American regions have reported haze and reduced air quality when the smoke plumes migrated overhead. Residents in these affected areas have observed visible smoke and experienced the associated atmospheric conditions.