Toronto, Canada... under a blanket of smoke
Over 200 million in U.S. and Canada face extreme weather alerts from smoke and heat

Ottawa, June 29 (RHC)-- Smoke from nearly 500 wildfires in Canada is blanketing much of North America in an unprecedented haze, triggering air quality alerts in 20 U.S. states that are home to a third of the population.  

On Wednesday, the EPA’s Air Quality Index for major cities, including Cleveland, Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Toronto, reached “unhealthy” or “very unhealthy” levels as city skylines faded into a shroud of smoky air.  Air pollution near Detroit reached “hazardous” levels. 

Meanwhile, over 100 million people across the U.S. are under heat warnings and watches today, as a heat dome that’s lingered over Texas expands to southeastern states, and parts of California brace for triple-digit temperatures.