Smoke Makes DC's Air Third Worst in the World

The smoke from wildfires in Canada is spreading south. Washington, DC, woke up Friday to air so smoky it ranked among the worst of any major city on the planet, reports Capital Weather. A cold front shoved a thick plume of Canadian wildfire smoke into the region overnight, sending air quality readings into "very unhealthy" and even "hazardous" territory—levels rarely seen in the area. Around sunrise, monitoring site IQAir listed DC behind only Detroit and Chicago worldwide. Toronto and New York City rounded out the top five.

• The smoke is expected to reach as far south as Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday afternoon, per the Washington Post. The newspaper has an interactive map showing the smoke's path from Canada into the US. Expect it to linger through the weekend to varying degrees.
• The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments issued a rare "code purple" alert on Friday, urging everyone to limit time outdoors. In Ashburn, Virginia, fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) hit an AQI of 373. Residents reported burning eyes, scratchy throats, and headaches as visibility at Reagan National Airport fell to about a mile.
• Health officials say PM2.5 can reach deep into the lungs and bloodstream, heightening risks for people with heart and lung conditions, older adults, and children. Read about ways to protect yourself.