Will The Canadian Wildfire Smoke Clear For July 4? MD Forecast

MARYLAND — Continued smoke from Canadian wildfires covers Maryland Friday, with a mix of red and orange air quality alerts across the state.

The Maryland Department of Environment has issued an Orange Air Quality Alert for Friday in the Baltimore and Annapolis area, an improvement from the "Code Red" a day earlier due to the presence of excessive smoke in the atmosphere.

Readings at 9:45 a.m. Friday on AirNow.gov showed the worst air quality from Baltimore to Columbia and Montgomery County.

As high pressure builds off the Atlantic coast, the thickest plumes of smoke are expected to gradually shift northward and out of the state, according to MDE's air quality forecast. Although fine particulate concentrations overnight and into the early morning hours may have pushed the region toward the "Code Red" range, slightly cleaner air will filter into the region throughout the day.

"USG ozone is also expected across most of the state Friday given warm temperatures and smoke aiding in its production," according to the Air Quality Forecast. "Highest ozone and fine particulate concentrations will be across the northern half of the state. Conditions will gradually begin to improve over the weekend as continued southerly transport should slowly push the smoke out of the state.

Over the weekend, enough clean air may be present to lower the particulate levels down into the moderate range on Saturday and Sunday. Late afternoon showers and thunderstorms should keep the ozone levels to the moderate range as well, according to MGE.

An orange alert means that unhealthy concentrations of pollution have spread across the region. Sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly and people with asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases, should avoid strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.

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.

Skies over the Baltimore-Washington region should remain hazy, with patchy smoke before noon and a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m, according to the National Weather Service. Otherwise, the day will be mostly sunny with a high near 88 and a 30 percent chance of precipitation.

A chance of showers and thunderstorms will continue into the evening, especially before 8 p.m. Expect Friday night to be mostly cloudy with a low around 71.

Afternoon thunderstorm are expected in suburban Washington, D.C. in the afternoon on Saturday, with a 55 percent chance of rain and a high of 86, according to the AccuWeather forecast. A thunderstorm or two is expected on Sunday, with temperatures close to Saturday's but an 88 percent chance of rain.

A small craft advisory will be in effect from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., on Friday, for parts of the Chesapeake Bay and adjoining estuaries north of Smith Point, Virginia, and Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island, Maryland to Smith Point, according to NWS. Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating small vessels, are advised to avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.

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

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Widespread haze. Patchy smoke before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southeast wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday: A chance of showers before 8am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of showers between 8pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday: A chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 93.