Canada and the U.S. have been criticized for insufficient efforts in managing and reducing forest fuels, which could help prevent widespread wildfires.
On July 17, 2026, a stark image demonstrated this issue: New York City’s skyline was enveloped in a thick layer of smoke due to ongoing wildfires. This incident, captured by Eduardo Munoz of Reuters, exemplifies the severe impact of these fires on air quality.
Authors Shawn Regan and Sean Speer, writing for City Journal, attribute the recent air-quality decline across the Midwest and Northeast to wildfire smoke. Cities from Minneapolis to New York were particularly affected, experiencing some of the worst air quality globally. By the weekend, smoke had spread to Washington, D.C., putting over 100 million Americans under air-quality alerts.
Atlantic Disturbance May Become Third Named Storm of 2026 
Canada’s Battle Against Wildfires Intensifies with Military Standby 
NOAA Withdraws Direct Support from 2026 Arctic Report Card 
Mayor Johnson Orders Stricter Data Center Regulations in Chicago 
NOAA Withdraws Support from Arctic Report Card 
Impacts of an Intensifying El Niño on Western U.S. Weather