A live camera overlooking the Mackinac Bridge captured hazy skies Thursday, July 16, as smoke from more than 830 wildfires burning across Canada — including at least 100 considered out of control — blanketed the Great Lakes region and pushed air quality levels into unhealthy territory across Michigan and the Midwest.
Metro Detroit woke up to some of the worst air quality in the world as smoke from fires in northern Minnesota and Canada moved over the region, leaving residents with hazy skies and the smell of burning wood in the air. The wildfire smoke has also stretched from Chicago to New York City, prompting air quality alerts across parts of the Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast.
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When will wildfire smoke clear in Michigan?
Southeast Michigan is seeing some of the densest smoke impacts, with air quality alerts in place as fine particles from Canadian wildfires reach the surface. The National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac said northwest winds are continuing to funnel smoke south from Ontario, reducing visibility and even limiting daytime temperatures by blocking sunlight.
Hazy conditions are expected to persist into Friday before a wind shift helps gradually improve air quality. Cleaner air is expected after a cold front crosses the Great Lakes this weekend.
Live cam: Mackinac Bridge from the Riviera Motel
Gallery: Mackinac Bridge blanketed in Canada wildfire smoke
Where are the Canada wildfires? Are they in Ontario?
Many of the wildfires affecting air quality concerns in the Northeast are burning in Ontario, Canada, as well as Minnesota and nearby regions, according to AccuWeather and Canadian wildfire maps. Smoke from those fires has spread across the Great Lakes and is forecasted to move toward New Jersey and the Northeast.
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Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the nation as the Weather Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network and contributes to Texas Connect coverage across the state. She can be reached at baddison@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Facebook here.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: When will wildfire smoke clear? Mackinac Bridge cam shows hazy skies
Reporting by Brandi D. Addison, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
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By Brandi D. Addison, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
