Air quality improving in Northeast, while wildfire smoke hangs over Midwest
Wildfire smoke and unhealthy air persist and shift direction, as Trump demands explanation from Canada. (Image credit: Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
Wildfire smoke and unhealthy air persist and shift direction, as Trump demands explanation from Canada.
(Image credit: Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
Smoke from massive wildfires in Canada and Minnesota engulf the Washington, D.C. skyline on July 17, 2026, reducing visibility and casting a colored haze over the Lincoln Memorial. Finn Gomez/Getty Images hide caption
WASHINGTON — Poor air quality persisted in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states on Saturday, as smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Minnesota and Canada continued to spread and envelop skylines. The National Weather Service (NWS) said heavy rain and storms could help clear the air in the northeast and mid-Atlantic this weekend, while dangerous levels of air pollution will still hang over the Midwest.
"As we start clearing out here in the east, they're going to get the next batch of smoke later this afternoon into tonight across areas from upper Michigan, eastern Wisconsin, into Illinois and Indiana, including Chicago," NWS Forecaster Brian Hurley told NPR. "That will continue through [Sunday], unfortunately."
Major League Baseball postponed Friday's game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians due to poor air quality in Cleveland until Saturday.
Link between raging wildfires and climate change is greater than ever
Hurley said conditions in the Washington, D.C., area are improving, following the eerie appearance of the city's landmarks enveloped in a thick, smoky haze on Friday. Air pollution will remain elevated into next week.