Key events
Show key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Canadian wildfire smoke to return to northern USLess than a week after smoke from Canadian wildfires resulted in hazy skies and dangerous air quality across the US midwest and northeast, more wildfire smoke is expected to return to cover a broader scope across the northern states.
As of Monday, more than 500 active fires were burning across Canada, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).
Of the fires active on Monday, at least 284 were considered to be “out of control”. By Monday morning, the total acreage burned this year was over 20.7m.
Smoke is forecast to shift out of the Canadian Rockies and Prairies into the neighboring northern Plains and northwest US, leading to air quality and low visibility, AccuWeather reported.
The smoke is forecast to reach cities like Seattle; Helena, Montana; and Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Later in the week, there is some smoke risk and the potential for poor air quality to return as a surface high slides into the upper midwest, bringing a northern wind into the region and in the north-east, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Joseph Bauer. He said:
The general pattern through at least the middle portion of the month is supportive of having more episodes of smoke enter the Midwest and Northeast from Canada.
As a result, more occurrences of poor air quality and hazy skies can occur in these areas more frequently.
A weekend wildfire in southwestern Washington has grown to 533 acres and destroyed an undetermined number of structures, according to officials.
Skamania county firefighters responded to reports of the wildfire on Sunday at about 11am, AP reports.
Hot, windy conditions caused the fire to spread rapidly through the afternoon, prompting authorities to order residents in the area to evacuate.
As of Monday morning, a total of 166 fire personnel were engaged with the fire, which is 0% contained. The fire threatens hundreds of residences, a fish hatchery and vineyards, the Seattle Times reported. The fire’s cause is under investigation.
Intense storm conditions this weekend caused flooding in the Chicago area, shutting down interstates and trapping drivers attempting to navigate flooded areas.