health
Saturday brings a high chance of thunderstorms across much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, which will help ease the bad air.
The Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol are barely visible from a view in Arlington, Virginia, as thick smoke from wildfires blankets the Washington landscape, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) AP
NEW YORK (AP) — Millions of people in the Great Lakes, Northeast and mid-Atlantic region were living through another day of turmoil. Unhealthy air It is uncontrolled forest fires Friday.
Thick smoke has shrouded the nation’s capital in a dark, eerie fog and sent Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians team… Postpone their game Against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Ohio.
Warnings of dangerous conditions are expected to remain in effect through Saturday across a wide swath of the United States, although there is potential for temporary improvement with storms expected in some affected areas over the weekend.
D.C. resident Stuart Verdery woke up on Friday to enjoy the usual sunrise view of the city’s famous landmarks from a rooftop, only to be greeted by a dark skyline and no ruins in sight.
“It’s crazy to wake up at sunrise and not see the sun when it’s not raining,” he said by phone after posting a video of the surreal event. Scene on X. “And it smells like someone is having the biggest cookout in the world.”
There is no end in sight to the smoky conditions
There may be pockets of relief at times, like this weekend, but the smoky conditions won’t go away anytime soon as fires continue to burn largely unchecked, warned Bob Oravec, chief meteorologist at the Maryland-based National Weather Service.
Forest fires are burning in Ontario, Canada, in addition to Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area in Minnesotawhich US officials closed as they struggled to put out the fires.
“The smoke source will probably last for a week,” Oravec said. “It’s just going to depend on which way the wind is blowing as to where the smoke will impact the most.”
On Friday, communities in Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan, including Detroit, again recorded some cases Worst air quality In the world, according to To IQ AirAir quality monitoring site.
Not far from Detroit was Washington, D.C., where the smoke originated Scary scenes. The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and other national monuments were shrouded in an orange-hued haze for much of the day.
People, especially those with heart or lung disease, the elderly and children, have been urged to limit or avoid going out until air quality improves.
Officials warned that long-term exposure to smoky conditions can compound existing health problems and lead to chronic and fatal problems, including respiratory disease, cardiovascular and neurological disease, and premature death.
For Maria Travilla, Friday was her first day outside since smoke from wildfires blanketed the Chicago area early Thursday.
“It’s better now,” said Travilla, who suffers from asthma and wore a mask as she crossed a bridge over the Chicago River downtown. “This morning, it was bad.” “They were saying that for people like me who have asthma, any kind of problem like that, it’s going to be bad for your lungs.”
Trump criticizes Canada
Hundreds of wildfires are burning in Canada, including about 190 in northern Ontario, Premier Doug Ford said at a news conference. The Namaygoosisagagun First Nation community has been devastated by the fire, and 10 northern Ontario communities have been evacuated or are being evacuated, with more possible.
The increase in fires in Canada’s vast forests has been largely blamed on climate change.
In response to the smoke, US President Donald Trump made a social media post on Friday in which he blamed Canada for its management of forests and threatened to impose additional tariffs on Canada.
The Canadian government did not initially respond to questions about Trump’s comments.
Asked about a Michigan lawmaker’s criticism of the smoke, Ford noted that Canada has helped the United States fight fires in the past.
“If there are some politicians tweeting, maybe what you should do instead of complaining is send support, send help, because we did the exact same thing to our American friends, and that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Ford said.
Conditions should improve before the World Cup final on Sunday
And in the New York City area, there was, too they On how smoky air will affect Sunday’s World Cup final between soccer powerhouses Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Oravec said winds will continue to push wildfire smoke eastward in the U.S., although conditions should be better on game day than on Saturday.
On Thursday, dense fog mixed with dark orange and yellow skies fell in several states Partially obscured Manhattan skyline.
Officials from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and other Northeastern states have distributed free K95 face masks, canceled outdoor programs and opened libraries and other public buildings as cooling centers where people can get a respite from the sooty air.
As Friday progressed, air quality measures improved from “unhealthy” to “moderate” in some places in and around New York City. A strong sun crept through a thin cloud of smoke, and clear blue skies were seen in most parts of the region on Friday afternoon.
Rainstorms could bring reprieve in some places
Saturday brings a high chance of thunderstorms across much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, which will help ease the bad air.
Organizers of the All-American Soap Box Derby in Ohio hope air quality improves enough to allow championship races on Saturday. Akron’s annual Grand Prix competition canceled Friday’s events due to air quality concerns.
“I think they made the right decision,” said Dayna Lincoln, a pediatric nurse from Hodgdon, Maine, whose family drove 15 hours to attend her 9-year-old daughter’s race on Saturday.
“I’m glad they’re not forcing the kids out of it,” she said. “There are children with asthma and adults with respiratory conditions who can and do suffer.”
Associated Press reporters Jim Morris in Vancouver, British Columbia, John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, and Sybil Mayes Osterman in Chicago contributed to this story.