Code Orange Air Quality Alerts Issued Across Eastern US Amid Canadian Wildfire Smoke

Several regions in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States are experiencing Code Orange air quality alerts on Thursday, June 12, 2025, due to smoke from Canadian wildfires combined with high temperatures that contribute to elevated ozone levels. Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection has issued alerts for Lower Bucks County, Eastern Montgomery County, and multiple counties near Pittsburgh, urging sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions to limit outdoor activities. Similarly, Baltimore, Maryland, is under a Code Orange Air Quality Alert with ground-level ozone concentrations expected to approach or exceed unhealthy standards. Residents are advised to minimize outdoor exertion and take actions like reducing vehicle use and conserving electricity to help lower ozone pollution. While air quality may improve over the weekend with cooler temperatures and rain, officials continue to monitor smoke impacts from the Great Lakes region. Additionally, Asheville and Buncombe County in North Carolina are under a less severe Code Yellow air quality forecast, recommending caution for unusually sensitive individuals.