Philadelphia skies will be hazy Tuesday due to Canadian wildfire smoke, air quality alert issued for Wednesday
Smoke from the Canadian wildfires will be visible in the Philadelphia region on Tuesday, and an air quality alert has been issued for Wednesday in the Delaware Valley.
More than 100 "out of control" fires are burning across Canada, in particular the provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, which sit to the north of Midwest and mountain states including Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota. says there are 10 new fires as of Tuesday morning.
In the U.S., smoke has particularly impacted air quality in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In Minneapolis and St. Paul, an air quality alert was in effect for forecasted "unhealthy" air, while in other parts of the state, air quality was predicted to reach the "hazardous" level.
How Philadelphia region will be impacted by Canada wildfires
Winds are carrying some of that smoke to the eastern U.S. on Tuesday. Smoke in the Philadelphia area will mostly stay high in the atmosphere, and the air we breathe down on the ground should stay relatively clear. No air quality alerts are in effect at this time on Tuesday, but a on Wednesday. The code orange alert means that air pollution concentrations within the Delaware Valley will be unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The haze started to appear Tuesday afternoon and you will probably notice the difference compared to a perfectly clear day — but the sun should still be visible.
Remember that even if it seems a little less sunny than a clear day, the sun's UV rays can still make it to the surface. You should still use sun protection as normal if you're outdoors.
This is a far different situation compared to 2023, when smoke from fires burning in Quebec descended down to the surface, greatly impacting air quality across the East Coast — and at one point, giving Philadelphia the worst air quality in the world.
Map shows when wildfire smoke is thickest over Philadelphia
This map from our morning newscasts shows the thickest smoke, represented by the redddish orange color, setting in around 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. Tuesday before cycling out overnight. Areas like the Jersey Shore could see some lingering thicker smoke Wednesday morning, which might make for a brilliant sunrise.
How can I monitor air quality near me?
When air quality turns hazardous, local health authorities will issue alerts — typically the worst these get is a Code Orange, meaning the air is unhealthy for .
The air quality index ranges from green for good to maroon for hazardous. You can see the full scale in the image above.
If an air quality alert is issued for smoke, it means the air contains a higher-than-normal measured concentration of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns, commonly abbreviated as PM2.5. PM2.5 is narrower in diameter than a human hair and due to its small size, can , with potential to induce inflammation or tissue damage.
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