Canada’s worst wildfires send smoke to Europe, air pollution continues in North America
Smoke from wildfires in Canada crosses the Atlantic and affects western Europe
(CNN) Smoke from Canada’s record-breaking wildfires crossed the Atlantic and reached western Europe on Monday. Canada’s wildfire season, which typically peaks between June and August, isn’t even halfway there. Statistics from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center show that at least 7,563,045 hectares have been lost this season, up from 7,105,998 hectares in 1995, the worst on record. Smoke blanketed New York City in early June and is now reaching the UK, according to the Met Office. But the smoke is riding jet streams in the upper troposphere to reach Europe, so it won’t be as bad as it was in the northeastern United States a few weeks ago. The smoke is expected to remain in the upper atmosphere over Europe for most of this week. Wildfires continue across Canada, with at least 53 new fires breaking out on Thursday. Alberta had the highest number of cases with 23 cases, followed by Ontario and Quebec with 8 cases. At least 27 new wildfires were reported Thursday, 16 of them in British Columbia. Record wildfires continue to affect air quality in North America. Environment Canada issued a warning Monday that smoke continues to degrade air quality in many parts of the country. Air pollution in the capital, Ottawa, reached a “high risk” level of 10 on Monday, but subsided Monday morning. According to the National Weather Service, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana also issued air pollution advisories on the 26th.
