A new wave of dense smoke has descended upon the United States, specifically targeting the Great Lakes region, as raging wildfires devour vast swathes of forests in Quebec and Ontario.
Over the past week alone, these provinces have witnessed more than 3.7 million acres scorched, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Devastating Wildfires Engulf Quebec and Ontario
The consequences of this environmental catastrophe have been felt acutely by the Midwest, with Chicago recording the worst air quality among major cities worldwide on Tuesday.
Minneapolis and Detroit also joined the unfortunate ranks of the ten worst cities, all grappling with hazardous conditions categorized as Code Red.
Several other areas, such as Waukesha, Wisconsin, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, experienced even more severe conditions, with air quality plummeting to Code Maroon and Code Purple respectively.
Air quality alerts have been issued and will remain in effect until Wednesday or Thursday for a vast stretch of the country.
This includes Minnesota, Iowa, the Midwest, the Great Lakes region, and parts of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and the Carolinas.
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Widespread Impact and Lingering Alerts
The Air Quality Index (AQI), a widely used metric to gauge air quality, indicates that readings exceeding 101 enter Code Orange territory, deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The situation worsens at 151, entering Code Red, which signifies unhealthy conditions for everyone. Code Purple, or very unhealthy levels, commences at 201, while the most severe classification, Code Maroon, indicates hazardous conditions and begins at 301.
The primary pollutant carried by wildfire smoke is known as PM2.5, referring to fine particles with a diameter equal to or smaller than 2.5 microns.
These microscopic soot particles result from the combustion of organic matter during wildfires.
The thick blanket of smoke originating from Quebec and Ontario has spread southwestward, enveloping parts of the Midwest and the Great Lakes region, and has now begun moving into the Ohio Valley and points eastward
On Tuesday, Lake Michigan and the surrounding states, particularly Chicago, bore the brunt of the smoke, with a dense patch advancing from the north.
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