Smoke from nearly 200 uncontrolled wildfires in Canada is triggering widespread air quality alerts across the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Fires in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario have scorched more than 16.5 million acres this year, making it likely Canada’s second-worst wildfire season on record. A high-pressure system over the Midwest is trapping smoke, causing air quality to range from “moderate” to “unhealthy” across 14 states. With millions of residents experiencing hazy skies and reduced visibility in states including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Massachusetts. Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs, raising risks of asthma, lung cancer, and other respiratory illnesses. Cities including Milwaukee, Detroit, Boston, and New York City remain under alerts, with conditions expected to persist.
The wildfire smoke is expected to continue to decrease across Wisconsin on Wednesday, and further extensions of the advisory are not expected at this time.
MILWAUKEE — Flash flooding canceled the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair on Sunday as continued heavy rainfall in half a dozen Midwest states forced motorists to abandon their vehicles, cut power to thousands of households and closed busy roadways.
