These 20 Cities Are Getting Hit Hard by Smoke From Wildfires
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07211928/Forecast-surface-smoke-concentration-July-22-2025-150x150.pngOn Monday morning, the Cram Fire in central Oregon grew to 95,000 acres, becoming the largest wildfire nationwide so far this year. While the blaze is more than half contained, smoke from the fire is spreading northeast into Idaho and Montana.
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Meanwhile, thick, dangerous smoke from Canadian wildfires is spreading southeast into Minnesota, with plumes stretching as far as New York City. The dual wildfire threats are causing serious degradations to air quality in cities across the country, pushing particulate matter concentrations well above healthy thresholds. A closer look at the data reveals the cities where wildfires are spreading the most smoke over the next few days.
To determine the cities where wildfires are spreading the most smoke, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on smoke forecasts and wildfires from the NOAA. Cities were ranked based on maximum forecast smoke concentration from July 22 to 24, 2025. Only cities downwind from uncontained wildfires at least 2,000 acres in size as of July 21, 2025 were included. Supplemental data on forecast temperature maximums and forecast rainfall are also from the NOAA. Only cities with at least 50,000 residents were included.
20. Ellicott City, MD
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 5.8 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 85.0°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 73,589
19. Blaine, MN
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 5.9 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 88.7°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.6 inches
- Total population: 70,047
18. Dundalk, MD
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 5.9 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 85.9°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 66,321
17. Schaumburg, IL
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 5.9 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 96.4°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 77,571
16. Gary, IN
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 5.9 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 94.4°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 69,136
15. Baltimore, MD
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.0 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 85.8°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 584,548
14. Hoffman Estates, IL
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.0 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 95.6°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 51,744
13. South Bend, IN
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.1 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 92.1°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 103,084
12. Towson, MD
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.1 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 85.3°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 57,617
11. Des Plaines, IL
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.1 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 97.1°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 60,087
10. Mishawaka, IN
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.2 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 91.9°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 50,899
9. Elkhart, IN
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.3 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 90.9°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 53,785
8. Mount Prospect, IL
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.4 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 96.9°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 56,191
7. Duluth, MN
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.4 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 78.6°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 2.1 inches
- Total population: 86,772
6. Madison, WI
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.6 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 92.6°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 268,516
5. Arlington Heights, IL
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.7 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 96.6°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 76,794
4. Palatine, IL
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.9 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 96.0°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 67,223
3. Janesville, WI
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 6.9 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 92.0°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 65,669
2. Springfield, OH
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 7.0 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 88.1°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.0 inches
- Total population: 58,645
1. Eau Claire, WI
- Forecast surface smoke concentration maximum, July 22-24: 8.6 µg/m³
- Forecast temperature maximum, July 22-24, 2025: 90.9°F
- Forecast cumulative rainfall, July 22-24: 0.3 inches
- Total population: 69,098
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