Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Reaches Gulf Coast

Smoke from wildfires currently burning in Canada reached the Gulf Coast in the Southern United States this week.

The smoke doesn't look like it will clear the U.S. "anytime soon," National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Joe Wegman told Newsweek , although the heaviest smoke has stayed north of the coast, so it's unlikely that air quality alerts will be issued that far south.

Why It Matters

This is the first time excessive Canadian wildfire smoke had descended into the U.S. since 2023 when wildfires worsened air quality to dangerous levels for millions in the Northeast.

In smaller amounts, smoke can cause hazy skies and create beautiful sunsets and sunrises. However, in higher amounts, the smoke can be dangerous, even prompting alerts urging peop