Smoke from wildfires in Canada continues to push into the U.S. and even all the way to Europe. As of Wednesday, more than 200 wildfires were burning in Canada. More than half were out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
Thousands of people have been evacuated, and some firefighters from the U.S. are going to help in Alberta and Manitoba.
The haze is affecting air quality across a significant portion of the country, including hazardous levels in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The haze continues all the way to Florida and up the Atlantic coast. Much of it is staying at higher altitudes, causing some spectacular sunsets but not a serious health hazard.
Now, from the other direction, airborne Saharan dust from Africa is expected in the Southeast by the end of the week. A massive plume is set to hit Florida on Wednesday and push over Mississippi by Friday. Remnants could spiral up to our region over the weekend, but it will thin out the further it travels overland.
According to NOAA, it's common for Saharan dust to cross the Atlantic to the Western hemisphere. In the U.S., bands will hit about every three to five days from June to the middle of August. Also known as the Saharan Air Layer, the dry, dusty air can push a 2-mile thick layer in the atmosphere about a mile above the ground or ocean.
The annual weather phenomenon travels along the same path where tropical Atlantic storms form that sometimes grow into our Gulf hurricanes. The increased presence of dust can help dampen development of those hurricanes.
It also brings stellar sunsets and sunrises to the U.S. and can affect air quality.
MAP: Arrival of Saharan dust this week. (Accuweather)
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Accuweather details of Saharan dust arrival
