How long will the Canadian wildfire smoke last in the US?

As millions of Americans in the Northern U.S. start to feel the effects of the Canadian wildfires, little relief is on the way, as they continue to burn across the border this week.

This comes as numerous wildfires are burning across the border in Ontario, with the Northwest portion enduring 136 active fires.

A total of 77 new fires have emerged, bringing the total to 876 actively burning across the country.

WATCH: DRAMATIC VIDEO SHOWS FREIGHT TRAIN, CREW CAUGHT IN CANADIAN WILDFIRES

As the wildfires continue to burn, smoke from the flames has invaded the U.S., creating an otherworldly scene in popular cities such as New York City and Chicago in the north.

As a result, over 130 million Americans are under air quality alerts due to the thick smoke produced by these wildfires.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, Michigan is being impacted the worst so far by these large plumes of smoke, with the entire state reporting the worst air quality on record since they began in the early 2000s.

Air quality alerts are in place stretching from Minnesota through Wisconsin to Michigan and into the Mid-Atlantic region.

As expected, the worst air quality is generally found in northern states near the Canadian border. However, smoke from the wildfires has still affected some locations farther east toward the I-95 corridor.

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New York City, Philadelphi, and Pittsburgh are a few big cities that have felt the effects of the persistent wildfires across the border.

WATCH: DRAMATIC VIDEO SHOWS FREIGHT TRAIN, CREW CAUGHT IN CANADIAN WILDFIRES

Big cities with poor air quality

On Thursday, a plethora of major cities reported unhealthy air quality:

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 16: Haze from Canadian wildfires blankets the Manhattan skyline as seen from a Staten Island Ferry on July 16, 2026 in New York City. Much of the East Coast and Canada is under an Air Quality Health Advisory as the Canadian and Great Lakes wildfire smoke gradually moves through the area, creating a thick haze in the heat. The region is experiencing temperatures with heat indexes over 100 degrees as it confronts another heat wave.Ahead Of World Cup Final, NYC Metro Area Under Smoky Skies Due To Canadian Wildfires.

(David Ramos / Getty Images)

The wildfire smoke has remained trapped in these states due to northwesterly winds behind a passing cold front, as the smoke is stuck in a belt of winds from Canada.

“Until the wind fully shifts back out of the southwest, some form of smoke and worsening air quality is anticipated to hang around through at least Friday, possibly into Saturday,” the FOX Forecast Center said.

CANADIAN WILDFIRE SMOKE INVADES A DOZEN STATES, SPREADING HAZARDOUS AIR QUALITY, HAZY SKIES TO OVER 124M

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 16: Haze from Canadian wildfires blankets the Statue of Liberty as seen from a Staten Island Ferry on July 16, 2026 in New York City. Much of the East Coast and Canada is under an Air Quality Health Advisory as the Canadian and Great Lakes wildfire smoke gradually moves through the area, creating a thick haze in the heat. The region is experiencing temperatures with heat indexes over 100 degrees as it confronts another heat wave.Ahead Of World Cup Final, NYC Metro Area Under Smoky Skies Due To Canadian Wildfires. 

(David Ramos / Getty Images)

Despite this, forecasters are monitoring a new area of low pressure that will dip into Ontario this weekend, as wind direction shifts the smoke back across the border and helps clear things up here in the states.

THREE MAJOR US CITIES RANK AMONG WORST AIR QUALITY IN THE WORLD AS CANADIAN WILDFIRE SMOKE INVADES AMERICA

Hopefully, by this weekend, people in affected areas will begin to notice more fresh air and clearer skies around the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Northeast as the smoke begins to disperse.