Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota pushes farther into the U.S. and engulfs D.C. in haze

Millions across the Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States are enduring another day of unhealthy air quality, a consequence of widespread and uncontrolled wildfires. The pervasive smoke has cast a gloomy, eerie haze over the nation's capital, Washington D.C., obscuring landmarks and prompting concerns for public health.

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It's pretty crazy to wake up at sunrise and not see the sun when it's not even raining.

The impact of the smoke has extended to recreational activities, forcing Major League Baseball to postpone a game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Pittsburgh Pirates in Ohio. Warnings of dangerous air quality conditions are expected to remain in effect through Saturday across a vast area of the U.S. While some areas might see temporary improvement due to forecasted storms over the weekend, the overall outlook suggests a prolonged period of poor air quality.

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And it smells like somebody's having the world's largest cookout.

Residents described surreal scenes, with one individual waking up to a darkened horizon and unable to see the city's famous monuments. The air quality monitoring website IQAir reported some of the worst air quality globally in communities across Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan, including Detroit. Washington D.C. also experienced significant haze, with the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial enveloped in an orange-hued atmosphere throughout much of the day.

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The source of the smoke is going to continue on for certainly a week, probably.

Health officials are urging vulnerable populations, including individuals with heart or lung conditions, older adults, and children, to limit outdoor activities until air quality improves. Long-term exposure to such smoky conditions can exacerbate existing health problems and potentially lead to chronic and fatal issues, such as respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and premature death. Forecasters caution that the smoke source is likely to continue burning for at least another week, with the extent of its impact dependent on prevailing wind directions.

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Now it's better. This morning, it was bad.