CNN – Air quality is taking a hit in parts of the central and eastern United States as smoke from out-of-control wildfires in Canada pours south – but that isn’t the only thing millions of people will notice in the sky this week.
A plume of dust originating from Africa’s Sahara Desert is tracking west across the Atlantic Ocean Tuesday and will soon reach parts of the Southeast.
This dust could collide with any lingering smoke in the South this week, potentially causing unhealthy air quality and a hazy, duller sky during the day, bracketed by colorful sunrises and sunsets.
Here’s when to expect the worst of each.
Dangerous smoke is impacting millions in North America
Nearly a hundred wildfires continue to burn out of control across Canada, from British Columbia to Ontario. The provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan have seen some of the worst blazes, which have forced thousands of people forced to flee their homes over the last week.
Smoke from those wildfires expanded rapidly over Canada and the US in recent days, stretching over an area of Canada equivalent to double the size of Texas – more than half a million square miles – last Thursday.
That smoke area had doubled in size by Sunday, covering more than 1.2 million square miles in Canada. Heavy smoke also overspread about 750,000 square miles of the US on Sunday.
That’s a huge problem due to some tiny pollutants.
Wildfire smoke contains very dangerous pollutants called PM2.5 that can travel deep into the lungs or enter the bloodstream when inhaled. The minuscule particles can lead to breathing problems like bronchitis and cause inflammation that aggravates diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions.
The smoke is most dangerous in areas where it is thickest and closest to the ground …
