Canadian Wildfire Smoke Is Back, Bringing Unhealthy Air to Midwest and Beyond

By Evan Comen • June 3, 2025

white smoke coming out from brown field

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As dozens of wildfires continue to burn across central and eastern Canada, a thick plume of smoke is drifting into the United States, bringing unhealthy air to millions of Americans. Fueled by dry conditions and intense heat in Quebec and Ontario, the fires have blanketed parts of the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast in a hazy shroud, triggering air quality alerts from Minnesota to North Carolina.

While no major fires are burning on U.S. soil, the transboundary smoke is pushing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels to dangerous highs. Forecasts show that by midweek, smoke concentration will reach 55.1 micrograms per cubic meter of air in St. Paul, Minnesota – more than twice the threshold considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Cities across Michigan, Kansas, and Ohio are also expected to experience some of the worst air quality in the country. A closer look at the data reveals which U.S. cities will be hardest hit by the latest wave of Canadian wildfire smoke.

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To determine the cities where wildfires are making the air dangerous to breathe, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on smoke forecasts and wildfires from the NOAA. Cities were ranked based on maximum forecast smoke concentration from June 2 to June 5, 2025. Only cities with at least 100,000 residents were considered. Supplemental data on total value of owner-occupied real estate and total population by city are from the U.S. Census Bureau.

25. Fort Wayne, IN

Photo by Javier Bailey on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 14.8 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $11.9 billion
Total population: 264,514

24. Cincinnati, OH

Photo by Mar Burch on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 15.0 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $15.0 billion
Total population: 308,870

23. Charlotte, NC

Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 16.1 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $41.0 billion
Total population: 902,449

21. Knoxville, TN

Photo by Stephen Ellis on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 16.4 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $9.4 billion
Total population: 191,857

20. Lee's Summit, MO

Photo by Chris LeBoutillier on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 16.7 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $9.5 billion
Total population: 101,728

19. Dayton, OH

Photo by Michael Bowman on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 16.9 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $3.1 billion
Total population: 137,305

18. Savannah, GA

Photo by Omri D. Cohen on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 17.1 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $7.4 billion
Total population: 147,583

17. Kansas City, KS

Photo by PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 18.3 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $5.8 billion
Total population: 155,438

16. Ann Arbor, MI

Photo by Michael Loftus on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 18.6 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $10.6 billion
Total population: 122,216

15. Concord, NC

Photo by Zac Gudakov on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 18.9 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $7.8 billion
Total population: 105,335

14. Sterling Heights, MI

Photo by Bruno Guerrero on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 19.3 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $9.8 billion
Total population: 133,744

13. Kansas City, MO

Photo by Farhodjon Chinberdiev on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 19.3 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $29.2 billion
Total population: 505,958

12. Warren, MI

Photo by Jason W on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 19.9 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $6.8 billion
Total population: 138,588

11. Overland Park, KS

Photo by David McBee on Pexels

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 20.1 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $20.7 billion
Total population: 196,676

10. Independence, MO

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 21.1 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $5.4 billion
Total population: 122,218

9. Olathe, KS

Photo by Mary Hammel on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 22.0 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $12.6 billion
Total population: 142,114

8. Detroit, MI

Photo by Crissta Ames-Walle on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 22.2 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $13.7 billion
Total population: 636,787

7. Toledo, OH

Photo by Leo Escala on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 22.6 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $7.3 billion
Total population: 269,962

6. Topeka, KS

Photo by Joshua Woroniecki on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 24.3 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $4.7 billion
Total population: 126,431

5. Dearborn, MI

Photo by Towhid Shamsi on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 24.7 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $5.7 billion
Total population: 108,414

4. Rochester, MN

Photo by Caleb Wright on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 42.8 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $10.2 billion
Total population: 120,848

3. Des Moines, IA

Photo by Drew Dau on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 46.4 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $10.5 billion
Total population: 213,164

2. Minneapolis, MN

Photo by Nicole Geri on Unsplash

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 54.2 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $35.5 billion
Total population: 426,877

1. St. Paul, MN

Photo by Thomas Parker on Pexels

Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 55.1 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $21.1 billion
Total population: 308,806