Columbus, Ohio – Skies over the Ohio Valley may turn hazy starting Saturday as a growing plume of wildfire smoke from Canada pushes south into the Midwest.
According to the latest HRRR smoke model, vertically integrated smoke from central Canada is projected to drift southeast over Illinois, Indiana, and into Ohio by May 31. While the smoke is expected to remain mostly aloft, it could still lead to reduced visibility, filtered sunlight, and vivid sunrises and sunsets across the region through early next week.
Cities like Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton may experience the highest levels of haze through Sunday night, especially during morning and evening hours. Although surface air quality impacts remain uncertain, those with respiratory conditions should monitor local advisories closely. If smoke does mix to ground level, localized health concerns may arise.
Drivers are urged to use headlights in low-visibility conditions, and residents should limit strenuous outdoor activity if haze becomes dense. This marks one of the first large-scale smoke events of the season tied to early Canadian wildfires.
Officials expect more clarity on timing and surface-level impacts in the coming days. Additional air quality alerts may be issued as updated model data becomes available.
