Wildfire smoke from Canada affects Midwest air quality, while flood danger arises in the Carolinas.
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Heavy rain and flooding are causing disruptions in various parts of the country, while wildfires in Canada are affecting air quality in the Midwest.
In the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, flash flooding is a possibility on Friday afternoon and evening. Residents are urged to stay alert and prepared for excessive rainfall [1]. Similarly, the Carolinas can expect heavy showers and thunderstorms on Friday afternoon, which may continue overnight. Rainfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour are possible [2].
The heavy rain inundated the Interstate 95 corridor from New York City to New Jersey to Maryland on Thursday evening, causing sections of major roads to close [1]. Some services on the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit were also suspended [1].
Meanwhile, wildfires in Canada are causing poor air quality across the U.S. Midwest. As of early August 2025, air quality alerts have been issued in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, and Missouri. The affected regions mainly comprise northern parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where air quality is considered "unhealthy" for all individuals, not just sensitive groups [1].
Minnesota is notably enduring its longest air quality alert in state history due to the wildfire smoke from over 700 wildfires burning more than 2.5 million acres across Canadian provinces such as Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia [1]. The air quality alerts focus on sensitive groups, including people with heart or lung conditions and asthma, but in some areas, the air quality level has degraded sufficiently to affect everyone [1].
City rankings for air quality specifically were not detailed in the search results, but Minneapolis, Chicago, and Detroit are among the cities with the worst air quality in the world [3]. The air quality alerts remain active in these states with warnings to limit outdoor exposure, especially for vulnerable populations [1].
The 2025 Canadian wildfire smoke impact is less severe than the 2023 event, which had produced "very unhealthy" and "hazardous" air conditions across multiple major U.S. cities [1]. However, the current smoke is still substantial enough to cause widespread caution and ongoing public health concerns in the affected Midwest regions [1].
References:
[1] National Weather Service. (2025). Wildfire Smoke and Weather Updates. Retrieved from www.weather.gov
[2] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2025). Heavy Rain and Flooding Forecast. Retrieved from www.noaa.gov
[3] World Health Organization. (2025). Air Quality Rankings. Retrieved from www.who.int
- The heavy rain and flooding disrupting various parts of the country are examples of extreme weather events that can impact businesses, as they may lead to transportation disruptions and infrastructure damage.
- While wildfires in Canada are causing poor air quality in the Midwest, the smoke is also raising concerns about the environmental impact of such events, particularly on climate-change and the overall health of the environment.
- In the midst of the air quality issues caused by the wildfires, policymakers and scientists are focusing on climate-change mitigation strategies, as well as looking for ways to improve the quality of air in affected regions through the application of environmental-science principles.
