Map: Track the air quality across Maryland as wildfire smoke wafts in
BALTIMORE -- All of Maryland is under a Code Red Air Quality Alert as wildfire smoke originating from Canada wafts into the region.
Air quality will be unhealthy for everyone. If spending time outdoors, it is recommended you wear a KN95 mask and wear eye protection. The worst air quality looks to take place for several hours Thursday morning.
Air quality in the afternoon may slightly improve, but you're still encouraged to postpone strenuous activities outdoors. Air quality alerts are also posted for states across the east coast and midwest.
There are currently almost 500 fires burning in Canada, and more than half of them are "out of control," according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
More than 19 million acres have been charred by wildfires in Canada so far in 2023 — about three times as much as an average full year.
Use this Air Quality Index tool to see how air where you live might be affected. The map will be updated every 30 minutes with new data.
The Air Quality Index rates the level of air pollution from 0 to 500. Green (0-50) is good. Maroon (301 or higher) is hazardous.
When the smoke was at its worst in the Baltimore area weeks ago, the AQI was more than 350, which is considered "hazardous."
The Environmental Protection Agency uses the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act, which include ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
