Are Canadian wildfires still burning — and will smoke reach NJ again?

Will Canada wildfire smoke return to New Jersey this week?

That's a question many residents are asking as hundreds of wildfires continue burning across Canada and searches for Canadian wildfires and air quality forecasts climb across the Northeast. While New Jersey's air quality has improved compared with recent smoky days, forecasters are still monitoring the potential for additional smoke plumes to reach parts of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Canada remains in the midst of an active wildfire season, with 890 active fires, including 91 classified as out of control, as of July 21. While those figures are down from a day earlier and air quality has improved across much of New Jersey, Canada remains at National Preparedness Level 4, indicating significant wildfire activity continues across multiple provinces.

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Are Canadian wildfires still burning?

Yes. Canada reported 890 active wildfires on July 21, including 91 classified as out of control.

Another 25 fires were being held and 68 were under control, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System.

While the number of active fires and out-of-control fires declined from a day earlier, wildfire activity remains widespread. Canada remains at National Preparedness Level 4, a designation used when significant wildfire activity requires extensive resource sharing among agencies and firefighting demands remain elevated.

Wildfires continue burning across multiple provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, underscoring the broad reach of Canada's 2026 wildfire season.

So far this year, Canada has recorded 3,915 wildfires that have burned roughly 7.5 million acres, larger than the state of New Jersey.

A national wildfire map shows active fires stretching across much of the country, from western Canada through Ontario and Quebec.

Even though active fire counts have declined somewhat, Canada remains at National Preparedness Level 4, indicating wildfire activity and firefighting demands remain elevated across multiple provinces.

Wildfire smoke map: Where is Canada wildfire smoke right now?

Current wildfire smoke maps show smoke stretching from active fire zones in Canada into parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Michigan. Smoke can shift quickly depending on wind direction and weather patterns.

AQI map: What is the AQI today?

Air quality across New Jersey has improved compared with recent smoky days, though some areas remain in the Moderate range Tuesday, according to the AirNow AQI forecast. Air quality is expected to improve Wednesday, with forecasts showing conditions largely in the Good range and well below the unhealthy levels seen during recent Canadian wildfire smoke events.

Will wildfire smoke reach NJ this week?

It's possible, though air quality has improved across much of New Jersey for now.

AirNow forecasts show most of the state in the Good to Moderate range Tuesday, well below the unhealthy conditions seen during recent smoke events. However, forecasters continue monitoring active wildfire zones across Canada and the potential for additional smoke plumes to drift into parts of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

AccuWeather says prevailing wind patterns could continue carrying smoke from western Ontario into parts of the United States in the coming weeks, even as individual smoke events come and go. Smoke concentrations can change quickly depending on fire activity, rainfall and shifting wind patterns, meaning periods of clearer skies do not necessarily mean the wildfire season's impacts are over. Air quality conditions can change quickly depending on wind direction and weather patterns, so residents may want to keep an eye on local air quality forecasts, AQI maps and wildfire smoke maps.

Could Canada wildfire smoke continue into August?

AccuWeather says it's possible.

Forecasters say prevailing winds could continue carrying smoke from active wildfire zones in western Ontario into parts of the Midwest and Northeast through much of August. While air quality can improve for days at a time depending on rainfall and shifting weather patterns, hundreds of active fires remain burning across Canada and meaningful rainfall capable of extinguishing many of those fires may remain limited.

AccuWeather says smoke concentrations will continue to vary from day to day and location to location, but periods of smoke affecting parts of the Northeast could continue until larger storms or cooler-weather systems arrive later in the summer. The forecast suggests lasting relief may not come until more widespread rain events become common later in August or into the fall.

Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network's Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Are Canadian wildfires still burning — and will smoke reach NJ again?