CANADIAN WILDFIRE SMOKE BLANKETS MIDWEST AS FLOOD RISK RISES IN CAROLINAS . (PHOTO).

Canadian wildfire smoke blankets Midwest as flood risk rises in Carolinas 

Between 1 and 4 inches of rain fell across the I-95 corridor on Thursday, prompting numerous flash flood warnings. Some areas experienced even heavier rainfall, with nearly 6 inches reported in Burlington County, New Jersey. Light rain continued across New England Friday morning, but drier conditions with mostly cloudy skies are expected through the afternoon, lasting until overnight.

The flood threat is now shifting to the Carolinas, where heavy showers and thunderstorms are forecast to begin Friday afternoon and persist overnight, with rainfall rates potentially reaching 2 inches per hour. Dallas-Fort Worth is also at risk for excessive rainfall Friday afternoon and evening, raising concerns about flash flooding in urban areas. Meanwhile, the Midwest is being enveloped by wildfire smoke from Canada, as more than 650 wildfires burn across the country, with 275 categorized as “out of control.” Cities including Minneapolis, Chicago, and Detroit rank among the top ten worldwide for the poorest air quality on Friday morning. Air quality alerts cover entire states such as Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan, as well as parts of Nebraska and Missouri. The smoke is expected to be heaviest Saturday afternoon in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, though hazy conditions will persist across much of the Midwest.

In the West, fires north of the Grand Canyon and in Utah are reducing air quality and creating hazy skies. The Dragon Bavo Fire along the Grand Canyon’s north rim has consumed 112,000 acres and is 9% contained. The Monroe Canyon Fire in central Utah has burned 48,000 acres and is 7% contained, with evacuation orders currently in effect. Meanwhile, 23 million Americans across six states face heat advisories Friday, with heat indices between 105 and 110 degrees expected from Louisiana to South Carolina. In the Southwest, an extreme heat warning is in effect for Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, with temperatures forecasted to soar between 107 and 114 degrees from Friday through Sunday. Despite the heat in the South and Southwest, much of the Midwest and East should experience mild temperatures over the weekend.