Wildfire Smoke Returns To MD: Here's When It Should Clear Out

MARYLAND — Smoke from wildfires burning hundreds of miles away in central Canada returned to Maryland on Wednesday, according to AccuWeather forecasters.

Hazy skies will be at their peak from 5 to 9 p.m., the National Weather Service said.

Although forecasters did not issue any alerts across the state, they warned sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease and children and older adults to reduce prolonged or heavy activity outdoors.

Exposure to air pollutants from the wildfire smoke can cause headaches, irritated eyes and sinuses, fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pains, asthma attacks, irritated throat and increased coughing, according to forecasters.

Residents from Detroit and Pittsburgh to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., as well as New York City, can expect hazy skies again because of the wildfire smoke, according to AccuWeather forecasters.

"In locations across the Great Lakes and Northeast, the most widespread impacts from the smoke will be hazy skies, leading to especially colorful sunrises and sunsets," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty. "The majority of the smoke impacting the United States is higher up in the atmosphere, rather than close to the surface."

The good news, however, is that forecasters expect overnight southeast winds to push the plume of smoke out of Maryland by Thursday morning.

Thunderstorms are also possible Thursday in Maryland, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters said the ongoing wildfires in central and western Canada are drifting farther north, giving the smoke more time to drift into the atmosphere before reaching Michigan and other parts of the U.S., limiting most health concerns.

Last month, smoke in the air reached unsafe levels that canceled outdoor activities, and hampered visibility at times.