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Canadian wildfire smoke brings poor air quality to Midwest as flood threat looms in Carolinas

1:13
Latest severe weather threats across US
WLS
ByKenton Gewecke and Jon Haworth
August 01, 2025, 1:35 PM

Smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada is blanketing the skies in the Midwest, leaving millions with dangerous breathing conditions.

Minneapolis, Chicago and Detroit were ranked in the top 10 major cities in the world with the worst air quality on Friday morning.

Chicago is seen, July 31, 2025.
WLS

Air quality alerts are in place in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, as well as parts of Nebraska and Missouri.

Related Articles

MORE: 3 life-saving tactics to use if in a car during a flash flood

Meanwhile, the Northeast is cleaning up after heavy rain inundated the Interstate 95 corridor from New York City to New Jersey to Maryland on Thursday evening.

One to 4 inches of rain fell in the region, with 6 inches of rain in isolated areas, leading to numerous flash flood warnings.

During the height of the storm, the rain closed sections of major New York City roads and suspended some services on the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit.

People jump over puddles crossing the street in Times Square during a rain storm on July 31, 2025 in New York City.
Craig T Fruchtman/Getty Images
PHOTO: A car drives on a flooded street after heavy downpours in Staten Island, New York
A car drives on a flooded street after heavy downpours in Staten Island, New York, U.S., July 31, 2025, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video.
Jesse Dominguez via Reuters

On Friday, the risk for flooding shifts south to the Carolinas and Texas.

In the Carolinas, heavy showers and thunderstorms will hit on Friday afternoon and continue overnight. Rainfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour are possible.

Flash Flood Threat - Friday Map
ABC News

In Texas, the Dallas-Fort Worth area is under risk for excessive rainfall on Friday afternoon and evening. Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected and flash flooding is possible in the urban corridors.

Flash Flood Threat - Friday Map
ABC News

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