Maps show U.S. air quality and Canada wildfire smoke forecast

An air quality map shows conditions improving across the United States Friday as smoke from the Canadian wildfires subsides after prompting air quality alerts and advisories in several states this week.

The map shows unhealthy air primarily over Canada with much of the Midwest and Northeast facing mostly moderate air as of Friday morning, according to a federal measurement system called the Air Quality Index. Some parts of the U.S. could still face unhealthy air for sensitive groups. 

The air index has six ratings: 

• Good
• Moderate
• Unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Unhealthy
• Very unhealthy
• Hazardous

Sensitive groups include those who have a heart or lung disease, as well as older adults, children and pregnant women.

Multiple states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan had experienced unhealthy air earlier in the week.

Some air quality alerts remain in effect Friday, including in northern Minnesota, areas around Lake Michigan and eastern Nebraska, according to the National Weather Service. 

But overall, the smoke was becoming less intense in the U.S. These maps show the smoke forecast for Friday and Saturday.

More than 200 fires were burning in Canada as of Friday morning, with over 100 of them considered out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Tens of thousands of residents across three provinces have been evacuated due to the blazes.

Nikki Nolan

contributed to this report.