A plume of smoke from wildfires in Canada is sweeping the United States again, worrying residents. On the last day 7, heavy fog obscured the skies of several Canadian and North American cities. Today, Chicago and much of the northern Midwest region is shrouded in smoke, affecting air quality in the region.

On the morning of this Wednesday (28), a haze of smoke enveloped Chicago and large areas of the northern Midwest region. This phenomenon follows a sudden drop in air quality recorded the day before, which prompted many residents of the American Midwest to wear masks when going outside. Other major cities like Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Milwaukee will also face dangerous air quality levels throughout the day.

New York City has not escaped the impacts of Canadian smog either. State Governor Kathy Hochul issued an alert yesterday, urging New Yorkers to take precautions as air pollution has reached unhealthy and dangerous levels. The city’s mayor even recommended the use of masks for all New Yorkers. Smoke from wildfires in Canada has been lingering for months and has even reached Europe, with reports of orange skies over the city of Vigo, Spain. Satellites recorded the movement of smoke across the Atlantic Ocean.

In early June, residents of New York had already come across the smoke from the forest fires in Canada (Photo: reproduction/Angela Weiss/AFP)

This time, the smoke affecting US cities was brought by a thunderstorm system moving eastward and, although with less intensity, still poses a risk to air quality. Currently, the concentration of smoke is highest in states near the border with Canada, with Detroit being the most affected city in terms of air quality. Additionally, Pittsburgh and Chicago also face very unhealthy air quality rankings.

Feature photo: Smoke from environmental fires in Canada. Reading/AP/Paul Sancya