Canadian wildfire smoke has caused over 120 million people to be affected by air quality warnings issued by municipalities earlier this week across the Midwest and Great Lakes region, with some cities canceling outdoor events as a result.
Multiple events in and around Chicago were canceled by local authorities out of an abundance of caution, according to NBC Chicago.
The poor air quality in the Midwest resembled what occurred in the Northeast throughout early June. The air in some areas was classified as “very unhealthy,” but a storm system has since blown some of the smoke out of the region, even as more is expected in the coming weeks, according to CNN.
The storm system also brought a lot of rain to Canada, but it was not enough to quell the raging wildfires that the country continues to battle.
“It’s important to note that the highest amounts of rain were not received in those areas where most active forest fires are,” said Canadian meteorologist Steven Flisfeder, Fox News reported.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported that, as of June 26, 76,129 square kilometers (29,393 square miles) of forest have burned in Canada since January 1, according to AP News. The previous record was set in 1989 when 75,596 square kilometers (29,187 square miles) burned.
Across the country, roughly 500 fires are burning, and more than 200 are considered to be out of control. Quebec alone has over 100 fires burning in total, and 77 are burning in the southern half of the province.
With the fires still raging, officials in affected areas of the United States have recommended keeping outdoor activities short and paying attention to air quality warnings.
“Watch for symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath as a sign to take a break or move indoors,” said the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, per NBC News.
More cities continue to deem their air quality “unhealthy,” as New York announced that the air is no longer suitable for sensitive groups, including pregnant women, children, those with lung or heart disease, and those with asthma. James McDonald, commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, said one in every six New York residents could be considered sensitive, per The New York Times.
