Millions of Americans told to shut all windows TODAY as toxic chemicals spark air quality emergency

Air quality alerts have been issued in several US states, warning millions of Americans to close all windows due to wildfire smoke blowing in from Canada.

Several large active wildfires have been burning from British Columbia to Saskatchewan and Manitoba over the last week, releasing plumes of toxic smoke toward the US.

Air quality alerts have been issued in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin on Friday, which could reach levels deemed 'unhealthy for all.'

Meteorologists also forecast smoke to blanket parts of North Dakota and Illinois. 

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency advised residents to reduce outdoor physical activity, keep windows closed and avoid contributing to air pollution by limiting outdoor burning and vehicle use.

Light to moderate smoke is expected to stretch from the Plains to the East Coast on Saturday, with the heaviest concentrations likely over the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa. 

The National Weather service urged Americans in the effect states to 'keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning.'

More than 160 wildfires across Canada have burned more than 1.6 million acres, prompting evacuations for more than 17,000 people. 

While officials urge Americans to stay prepared, they note the current situation is less hazardous than in 2023, when Canadian wildfires turned skies across the Northeast a hazy orange.

AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said: 'Most of the time, the smoke will be high-flying and dim the sun, leading to vivid sunrises and sunsets and causing a hazy appearance to the sky overhead.

'However, there will be episodes where the smoke can reach the lower levels of the atmosphere and affect visibility and air quality. 

'That could be a safety concern for travel in extreme cases and pose health problems for some individuals with respiratory issues.'

Minnesota is set to feel the brunt of the smoke. The state's Arrowhead region had the poorest air quality in the nation on Friday morning and Saturday could be worse.

AccuWeather also warned that smoke is most likely to become thick enough to be noticeable in major cities such as Fargo, North Dakota Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota.

Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin Chicago and possibly as far south and east as Detroit and Indianapolis are also at risk.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) said pollutants from the smoke are expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups in the state from Friday into Saturday morning.

'There is a possibility that hourly levels could reach the Unhealthy range for a short period of time,' EGLE added.

Meteorologist also warned that ozone problems could hit the north-central region next week due to a combination of high temperatures and lingering wildfire smoke.

Ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant that can cause various health problems, damage materials and contribute to climate change. 

Hazy skies are set to appear over several states today, including Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

Smoke may reach the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast by late morning or afternoon, though it's unclear whether it will be dense enough to significantly impact air quality in those regions.

The Canadian province of Manitoba declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, triggering mass evacuations in the area.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said: 'This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people's living memory.'

'The military is being called for help here because of the sheer scale of the 17,000 folks that we move relatively quickly.' 

So far this year, Manitoba has had 102 fires, which officials say is 'well above' the province's average of 77 by this time. 

Separately, wildfires in Alberta province have prompted a temporary shutdown of some oil and gas production and forced residents of at least one small town to evacuate. 

That region was affected on Wednesday by wildfires spanning 11.2 square miles near Chipewyan Lake, a small community in the northern part of the province approximately 81 miles west of the oil sands hub of Fort McMurray. 

Canada experienced its worst wildfire season on record in 2023, when more than 45 million acres were lost.

Huge swaths of the US , from the north east to the Great Lakes, were blanked in  smog for several days as a result.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged millions of residents to remain indoors as a sheet of smoke from the wildfires left hose in Manhattan unable to see the New Jersey skyline across the Hudson River.

Similar air quality alerts were also issued in  Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, Virginia and the Carolinas.

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