Air quality warnings have been issued across major US cities as dense smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires drifts south. Detroit, Chicago, and New York are among the cities affected, with hazardous conditions reported.

Detroit and Chicago recorded air quality index readings in the 'hazardous' range, while New York's metro area was shrouded in a smoky haze deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned conditions could worsen overnight into Saturday.

NWS meteorologist Peter Mullinax said winds over the Great Lakes region could push more smoke into the Northeast, keeping skies hazy. Some forecasters fear additional smoke will be blown south after weekend weather systems.

FIFA World Cup organizers said they are 'monitoring closely' the situation ahead of the final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. 'There's been discussion about it, and we have somebody with the National Weather Service that sits in FIFA headquarters,' said Andrew Giuliani, White House World Cup task force executive director.

Canada reported 903 active wildfires on Friday, with 122 considered out of control. So far, 2.784 million hectares (6.8 million acres) have burned. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the situation has 'escalated significantly' over the past three weeks, forcing thousands to evacuate.

Source: www.dw.com