Smoke from Canada’s wildfires has led to red and purple air quality alerts across large parts of the U.S., indicating unhealthy air conditions and recommending limited outdoor time.

Current Status: Poor air quality from wildfire smoke is prevalent across parts of the Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Central Appalachia, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast U.S.
* Air quality in Madison, Wisconsin was measured as 242, classed as a “very unhealthy” purple alert rating.
* Entire states like Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey are under air quality alerts ranging from orange to red.

Health Recommendations: These conditions prompt officials to warn against outdoor physical activity, especially for vulnerable demographics.
* Under “code red” conditions, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues should avoid outdoor activities, and others should minimize prolonged or heavy exertion, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
* The more severe “code purple” circumstances suggest everyone should limit prolonged and heavy physical activity outdoors.

Effects on Events: The poor air conditions have led to event cancellations.
* As example, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s opening ceremony in Washington, D.C. was called off due to a new code red alert.

Global Impact: The smoke from Canada’s wildfires has reached significant distances, even affecting cities and regions outside the U.S.
* A total of five U.S. cities — Washington, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis and New York — are amid the 10 major cities worldwide suffering the worst air quality and pollution currently.
* Although the wildfire smoke has reached Europe, it is causing darker skies rather than health alerts due to its higher altitude.

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