Smoke from widespread wildfires in Canada continues to impact air quality across large areas of the United States, although meteorologists say improving conditions are expected ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey.

The smoke, originating primarily from fires in Ontario and northern Minnesota, has blanketed much of the Northeast with haze and unhealthy air over the past several days. However, a storm front moving through the region, accompanied by thunderstorms, is forecast to clear the thickest smoke from the New Jersey area in time for the match between Spain and Argentina. Tyler Roys, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, noted that while some light haze may remain, the most severe smoke causing poor air quality is unlikely to affect New York City and the surrounding Northeast region during the final.

Despite this temporary relief, officials warn that smoky conditions will persist for at least another week as the wildfires continue largely uncontrolled. Bob Oravec, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service office in Maryland, said the extent and location of smoke will fluctuate depending on wind patterns.

In the Midwest, Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan, including cities such as Detroit, recorded some of the worst air quality worldwide on Friday, according to the air quality monitoring website IQAir. Washington, D.C., was also shrouded in an orange-hued haze for much of the day, with visibility reduced at prominent landmarks like the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. Public health officials advised people, especially those with preexisting heart or lung conditions, older adults, and young children, to limit outdoor activities until air quality improves. Prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses and increase the risk of premature death.

The fires have led to closures and evacuations in affected areas. In Minnesota, officials closed the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness as crews worked to contain outbreaks. In Nova Scotia and northwestern Ontario, large-scale evacuations are underway due to intense fires that have demanded significant firefighting efforts.

In Ontario, nearly 200 wildfires have already consumed more land than recorded in all of last year’s fires. Dave Tarini, Fire Chief in Thunder Bay, described this season as unprecedented in his more than 35 years of service. British Columbia is facing a surge in active fires as well, with roughly 100 blazes burning, up from about 20 earlier in the week. The BC Wildfire Service attributed the rise in fires to approximately 4,000 lightning strikes that struck the province recently.

The smoke’s cross-border impact has stirred political tensions. Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly blamed Canada for the smoke and threatened trade tariffs as a response. He described the air quality resulting from the fires as “dangerous” and “unacceptable.” Ontario Premier Doug Ford condemned these remarks as “absolutely unacceptable,” emphasizing Canada’s cooperation in assisting the United States during natural disasters, including recent hurricane relief efforts in Georgia.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted the role of climate change in intensifying wildfires and urged collective global responsibility, including acknowledgment from the United States. Scientists and meteorologists attribute the increased frequency and severity of the fires to climate-related factors such as rising temperatures and drought conditions.

Environment Canada has issued extensive air quality advisories affecting large regions of the country and parts of the Northwest Territories. The Canadian Wildland Fire Information System reported hundreds of active fires as of Saturday, underscoring the ongoing challenges facing emergency responders and residents alike.