Biggest smoke plume yet from Canadian wildfires to blanket 23 states today as Code Orange warnings issued for vulnerable residents to stay indoors

By SOPHIE MANN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: | Updated:

Another massive plume of smoke from Canada hit the lower 48 on Monday, with air quality in some half of US states expected to be impacted at least through Tuesday.

Smoke swept through US cities and states on the East Coast Monday, prompting local health authorities to issue air quality warnings and request that people with health issues that may make them vulnerable to smoke to stay inside. 

Code Orange air quality - meaning quality that will impact vulnerable populations - is expected to hit 23 states through Tuesday and will include population hubs like Chicago, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Nashville - all of which were also blanketed in smoke on Monday.

Washington, DC ranked among the most polluted cities on Earth Monday afternoon due to the smoke that was swept over from the Appalachians toward the coast. 

Smoke from wildfires  in Canada descended on the New York City skyline Monday morning

Smoke from wildfires  in Canada descended on the New York City skyline Monday morning

NEW YORK: The morning sun is  covered by smoke and clouds as Governor Kathy Hochul issued an air quality advisory due to smoke coming down from Canada

NEW YORK: The morning sun is  covered by smoke and clouds as Governor Kathy Hochul issued an air quality advisory due to smoke coming down from Canada

A haze reached from southern states like Alabama and Georgia all the way to New England and into the Great Lakes on Monday. Smoke remained present in Montana and parts of the Great Plains as well.

Over the weekend, Code Red air quality conditions - those which are unhealthy for anyone to breathe - were documented in parts of Montana and the Dakotas. On Sunday, the Code Red air reached into Iowa and Illinois. 

Though the smoke is not as thick as was experienced last month, it is impacting a bigger swath of the country and is stretching further South. 

Unlike last time, the smoke is coming primarily from western Canada wildfires. In June, smoke was mostly drifting down from Ontario and Quebec. It is the largest smoke plume recorded so far this year. 

New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned New Yorkers that the state will be under air quality health advisories for the beginning of the week.

Upstate communities, including Albany, will be the most seriously affected by the smoke.

On Sunday, Hochul said: 'If you start looking up tomorrow, you’re going to see a similar situation to what we had a couple weeks ago, because of the air quality degradation resulting from the wildfires in Canada.'

'So we’re going to have air quality issues once again.' 

By Wednesday, the smoke is expected to disperse when it is pushed off the East Coast. 

Smoke rises from the Little Blue River wildfire (R91162) south of the Yukon border in the Stikine Region, British Columbia. It has been an unprecedented wildfire season in Canada

Smoke rises from the Little Blue River wildfire (R91162) south of the Yukon border in the Stikine Region, British Columbia. It has been an unprecedented wildfire season in Canada

Flames from the Peacock Creek wildfire near Houston, British Columbia, Canada

Flames from the Peacock Creek wildfire near Houston, British Columbia, Canada

Authorities have said this year's wildfire season is unprecedented. On Sunday evening, there were 883 active wildfires burning across Canada, 581 of which were out of control. 

Most of the out of control fires are in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec.

Provincial authorities say their resources have been pushed past their breaking point and are asking for outside help.

The Canadian government has asked other countries to send firefighters.

Hundreds of US, French, and Australian firefighters have been sent to help tame the blazes in recent weeks. 

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