Minnesota has already set a record for the number of days with poor air quality, and persistent wildfires over Canada will mean episodes of thick smoke the rest of the summer.
Weather extremes are trending more extreme over time, and current wildfires and smoke can be traced back to a statistically rare heatwave over Canada last month.
Smoke has arrived a couple of months early this summer season and here is how you can help your family protect themselves on days when air quality is poor.