# How's the air you breathe today? Can you smell the smoke from the wildfires in Quebec? (June 2023) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 7, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158 "2023-06-07T17:21:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/21 "2023-06-07T17:51:55Z")
Here in Northwest Indiana, just outside of Chicago. Definite haze in the air, but not as bad as the east coast. Red sunsets and sunrises in a purple sky. Blood red full moon this week. If anyone wants to know their air quality but isn’t sure how to get it type your zip code/city/state into [this website.](https://www.airnow.gov/) which works outside of major cities, too. My town is currently 105, which is enough that I’m feeling it (thank you history of asthma). At least mask wearing is acceptable now. If my local air got as bad as what New York and other nearby places were experiencing I’d definitely be wearing one. Possibly my big, covers-half-my-face-and-makes-me-look-like-an-alien one and not just the covid N95 variety. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/22 "2023-06-07T17:56:45Z")
Yeah, in Manhattan here and the air is seriously shitty. The sky just got way worse within the last hour, very dark orangey-yellow. Many people now wearing masks outside. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/23 "2023-06-07T17:57:53Z")
Nearest big city to me is Richmond, VA. It’s been hazy since around noon yesterday and we can smell smoke. Air quality on the [AirNow.gov](http://AirNow.gov) site is 178, unhealthy. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/24 "2023-06-07T18:06:38Z")
In Queens, and experiencing the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/25 "2023-06-07T18:08:50Z")
Yes, I’m right nearby. There is a stiff breeze and it is mild, 60-ish degrees, thank god, or I think we’d be dropping like flies. It’s been so dry this year (and hardly any snow last winter) - we have small fires that pop up here and there despite it being leafy green temperate northeast. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/26 "2023-06-07T18:12:15Z")
Same here. Very dry. Almost drought conditions. I did enjoy the mild winter, though. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/27 "2023-06-07T18:14:32Z")
I’m in southern SC and there’s a high haze starting. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/28 "2023-06-07T18:19:19Z")
Strange - I’m in Boston right now, and air is clear & no smell of smoke. Same thing at home 20 miles north this morning. I don’t know how we’re avoiding it. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/29 "2023-06-07T18:21:06Z")
It comes and goes depending on the wind. Earlier this morning my town was 81, but now it’s up to 105, and who knows what it will be in another couple hours. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/30 "2023-06-07T18:24:53Z")
I can see NJ again. Seems to be clearing slightly. ---
**Author:** ![Sooner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sooner/32/7875_2.png) [@Sooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sooner)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/31 "2023-06-07T18:29:19Z")
It is noticeable here in Charlotte ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/32 "2023-06-07T18:32:25Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > If anyone wants to know their air quality but isn’t sure how to get it type your zip code/city/state into [this website.](https://www.airnow.gov/) which works outside of major cities, too. [AirNow also has a live map](https://fire.airnow.gov/) which shows where the fires are and their smoke concentrations. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/33 "2023-06-07T18:35:58Z")
In Toronto, downtown has smelled like crap since yesterday, and the air looks slightly mung-ish. Ottawa is apparently getting it much worse; there are a lot of “a week ago/today” comparison pics making the rounds, and the second shot looks like a scene from _Dune_. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/34 "2023-06-07T18:38:11Z")
AirNow says we’re at 460. (I’m located – click on my avatar.) I wonder how often they update it – it was so dark here earlier in the day that part of my head kept thinking it was about to pour (we’re actually quite dry), but right now it’s a good bit lighter. It was pretty thick yesterday; sometimes worse than it is now, but not as bad as this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/35 "2023-06-07T18:39:54Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Strange - I’m in Boston right now, and air is clear & no smell of smoke. Same thing at home 20 miles north this morning. I don’t know how we’re avoiding it. Weird! I’m south of Boston and the sky definitely looks hazy. Here’s what Boston looked like yesterday, there are plenty more pictures like it on Twitter. It does come and go though. > ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/36 "2023-06-07T18:43:03Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Weird! I’m south of Boston and the sky definitely looks hazy. Well, it’s cloudy, but there’s no haze - I can see clearly for at least a mile from my building. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/37 "2023-06-07T18:48:48Z")
Central Jersey, on the Bayshore. We’re sepia toned. It is a Red Air Alert. The worst I’ve ever seen. I’ve got the house closed up and I’m running the AC despite it not being all that warm. This map has been helpful: > **[Maps: Tracking Smoke From Canadian Fires](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/smoke-maps-canada-fires.html)** > > See an hourly forecast of where smoke from the Canadian wildfires is traveling across the United States. We had a red sun last night at about 6pm. I’m not even stepping out right now to check. Lots of wood burning smell here. The bulk of the smoke and particulates are coming down from Canada, please see the NY Times map I linked. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/38 "2023-06-07T19:07:46Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Yeah, and the smell is pretty nasty. Not like a wood-burning smell at all. What are they burning up there?? What are they burning up there? Our grandchildren’s future. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/39 "2023-06-07T19:09:40Z")
It feels strange that California is the place that actually has reasonably _good_ air quality for once. But just wait a few months… ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158/40 "2023-06-07T19:23:51Z")
180 in philly. the amount of canada burning is stunning. i don’t remember having this much burning at one time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158.md?page=3)