Cross-Regional Air Pollution from Minnesota Mountain Fire, USA

May 14, 2025 Minnesota, USA, is facing severe air pollution as smoke moves south to Iowa and Chicago under gray skies due to the spread of the Canadian mountain fires. Meteorologists warn of dry weather, strong winds exacerbating the fires, with low snowfall, warmer temperatures and drought in the lead-up to the fires. Canada’s 2025 mountain fire season continues, highlighting the amplifying effect of climate change (heat, drought) on wildfire risk, North American air quality linkages threatened, and environmental authorities calling for increased cross-border fire monitoring and mitigation cooperation.