Wildfire smoke makes air unhealthy from Midwest to East Coast, officials say stay inside

Wildfire smoke choked skies across the U.S. Midwest and East Coast on Thursday, reducing visibility and creating dangerous air quality. Officials in numerous cities advised residents to remain indoors or wear masks outdoors as pollution levels reached unhealthy and hazardous thresholds. The smoke originates from fires burning in Canada and northern Minnesota, trapped near the ground by a persistent high-pressure system.

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Sure enough, it arrived in force here and it's really pretty extreme levels.

Visibility dropped to as low as a half-mile in some areas, with air quality in Michigan and Minnesota reaching hazardous levels. Chicago also experienced very unhealthy to hazardous conditions. Meteorologists warn that even with expected wind shifts, smoky air could return intermittently until the fires are extinguished, a process that could take months.

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It's scary. You don't know necessarily what the side effects may be. That's days or months later.

Residents expressed concern about the immediate and potential long-term health effects of breathing the smoke. Microscopic particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular problems, as well as other chronic health issues. Some areas saw skies glow yellow, with a distinct odor permeating the air, prompting comparisons to a "scary" and "not a good sign" environment.

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It stinks. It's not a good sign when you wake up in the morning and you can smell the air.

New York City also experienced a thick haze, with officials opening cooling centers and health departments distributing masks. The persistent smoke underscores the far-reaching impact of wildfires, even those burning hundreds of miles away, posing a significant public health challenge.

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could be looking at weeks to months of continued smoke and flare-ups off and on as the winds blow in different directions.