Smoke Over MD Prompts Orange Alert, Rain In Forecast

MARYLAND — A "code orange" air quality alert was issued on Wednesday as Maryland and Washington, D.C., residents woke up to hazy skies.

The Maryland Department of the Environment issued an Orange Alert for Wednesday and Thursday, predicting air quality indexes of 127 and 124, respectively, on those days. At those levels, the air quality is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. An API of 50 or below is considered safe.

The new wave of smoke from the ongoing wildfires in Canada comes about three weeks after the worst air quality on record hit the D.C. area, caused by the wildfire smoke.

While the D.C. area will be under a code orange alert, "code red" air quality alerts are in place for western Maryland, according to the National Weather Service.

Under a code orange, people in sensitive groups are advised to stay inside if possible. This includes older adults, children, teens and people with heart or lung disease, according to AirNow.gov.

Across Canada, 490 fires are burning, with 255 fires considered to be out of control. The small particles in wildfire smoke can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and can affect the heart and lungs, making it harder to breathe.

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported Monday that more than 29,000 square miles of land, including forests, has burned across Canada since Jan. 1. Nearly a quarter of the fires burning in Canada are in Quebec, where recent rainfall has helped in firefighting efforts but has not been enough to extinguish the fires.

On Friday, as the smoke moves out of the D.C. area, high temperatures are expected to reach into the upper 80s to low 90s.

"We’re more humid, too, with the potential for isolated or scattered showers and thunderstorms late Friday afternoon or evening," the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang reported Wednesday.

Over the weekend, forecasts are calling for both Saturday and Sunday to be hot and humid, with highs near 90. Both days also carry the potential for scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon and evening, the Capital Weather Gang said.

With some localities in Maryland opting to celebrate the Fourth of July on Saturday or Sunday instead of Tuesday, this weekend's weather will determine if the local Independence Day fireworks display is a success or a total washout.

After two days of thunderstorms and heavy rain, hazardous conditions aren't expected for the next couple of days, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

Thursday afternoon's mostly cloudy and hazy skies will continue into the evening, becoming mostly clear with a low of 61 overnight, according to the NWS. All day Thursday will be sunny and clear, with a high of 87 and a a low around 68 on Thursday night.

Wet weather will return on Friday, with a 40 percent chance of precipitation, with showers and thunderstorms possible after 2 p.m., according to NWS.

There will be similar conditions on Saturday, with showers and thunderstorms likely before 8 p.m., NWS predicts. This will continue overnight, with a 60 percent chance of precipitation.

Sunday through Tuesday, Marylanders can expect more possible showers and thunderstorms, with high temperatures hanging around 89 during the day and dropping to about 70 in the evenings.

NBC4 meteorologist Chuck Bell noted that a Northwest wind in the summer typically pushes out the heat and humidity from the D.C. area. "Not this summer, thanks to all the Canada wildfires which are sending smoke/pollution our way," Bell said Wednesday.

Here is the five-day Maryland forecast from the National Weather Service:

Wednesday Afternoon: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Northwest wind around 9 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Northwest wind 3 to 6 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Light and variable wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 6 mph.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 30%