The skies today took on a slight haze, even with the area of high-pressure currently in control over the Lehigh Valley. The reason for these conditions has to largely do with the wildfires currently burning in Ontario, Canada.
While wildfires have already been burning across various areas of central and western Canada, it was a total of 31 new wildfires in Northwest Ontario as of 9:40 PM CDT on July 13, 2026 that have led to current conditions. Ontario’s fire season runs from April 1 to October 31, and these new fires brought the province’s total active fires up to 128 – 53 of which are not under control. Additionally, wildfires in northern Minnesota near the Canadian border – many of which have already been burning for a week – are also contributing some smoke to current conditions.
When thinking about wildfires and smoke in recent years, many on the East Coast might reminisce to the 2023 Quebec wildfires that deteriorated the air quality and turned the skies orange for much of June 7th and 8th.
Thankfully, conditions with the ongoing fires are not expected to be quite as poor. The smoke will remain largely aloft for the rest of Tuesday evening, with a hazy sky being the main impact. The air quality index will be in the upper 40s to low 50s, making it on cusp of being good and moderate. So, while there will be little risk present, groups with a high sensitivity to air pollution should take caution when going outdoors.
Conditions on Wednesday look to be similar, with a haze covering the otherwise clear sky for a majority of the day. The air quality will be slightly better in the morning, with indices in the upper 40s, but will return once again to more moderately high levels in the mid-to-upper 60s by the afternoon and last through the evening.
Wednesday night into Thursday will continue with air quality indices in the lower 60s, with values in the upper 50s and low 60s lingering through the day on Thursday and Friday. Some mixing of the smoke down to the surface alongside a slightly smoky smell could occur come Thursday and Friday, but it will not be as severe as that of 2023. Exercise caution when going outdoors for extended periods of time, use the “recirculate” mode in your car if traveling, and keep doors and windows closed as much as possible.
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