Map reveals the three US states issued air quality warnings due to Canadian wildfires

Massive wildfires burning across large swathes of Canada have begun sending thick smoke drifting into the upper Midwest of the United States, triggering air quality alerts. The smoke, largely from blazes in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, has blanketed cities and rural areas alike. Which has created hazy skies and potentially hazardous breathing conditions for some. US health officials are warning people in certain areas, especially those with existing health conditions, to stay indoors as much as possible and avoid any strenuous activity while the alerts remain in place (Picture: Pitts Stop Garage via REUTERS)

The warnings kicked in on Wednesday and are expected to stretch right through Thursday, possibly extending into the weekend. The National Weather Service (NWS) says that the smoke is being pulled southward by persistent northerly winds, with conditions being made worse by a high-pressure system that's keeping the air still and smoky (Picture: EPA)

The alerts currently cover all of Wisconsin and large parts of Minnesota and Michigan, with smoke levels high enough to trigger public health advisories. Detailed maps showing the exact affected areas are available on the National Weather Service website (Picture: Flourish)

This isn’t the first time that smoke from Canadian wildfires has caused problems in America this summer. Bordering states have repeatedly found themselves under hazy, smoke-filled skies as hundreds of wildfires continue to burn across Canada, many of them out of control. The plumes can stretch for hundreds of miles and descend to the ground , filling the air with fine particulate matter that’s tough to see but easy to breathe in (Picture: REUTERS)

According to the NWS, the type of smoke moving into the Midwest is especially dangerous because it contains high concentrations of something called 'PM2.5'. These are tiny particles that - the United States Environmental Protection Agency says - are small enough to slip deep into lungs and even enter the bloodstream (Picture: Pitts Stop Garage via REUTERS)

People with asthma, heart disease or any kind of respiratory condition are being told to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion if they're in the affected areas. But it’s not just vulnerable groups who need to be cautious. Everyone is being asked to take steps to protect themselves from exposure. ‘Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible,’ the NWS advises (Picture: Getty Images)

The Center for Disease Control recommends closing windows overnight, and keeping air conditioners running on recirculate can also help keep smoke out of your home. Until then, officials say it’s smart to stay alert. If you live in an affected area, keep an eye on local air quality indexes and follow all health advisories. Even if you feel fine, breathing in wildfire smoke - or affected air - can cause problems later on in life, especially with repeated exposure (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Northerly winds will continue transporting waves of heavy surface smoke from wildfires across Manitoba and Saskatchewan into Minnesota,’ the NWS warned on Wednesday. 'Smoke will move south across all of Minnesota and linger through Saturday afternoon. The smoke will be reinforced by an area of high pressure that will create light winds and limit the dispersion of smoke’ (Picture: Maxar/REUTERS)

This week’s smoke invasion follows a similar event on the East Coast, where parts of New York state, including New York City, were recently under air quality alerts for the same reason. As Canada’s wildfire season drags on, and weather patterns carry smoke far and wide, more of these alerts could be on the way (Picture: Getty Images)

Meteorologists are watching a new front expected to move in next week, which could push the smoke in a new direction. Current thinking is that it's possibly going to drift into more of the Midwest region of the country, or even the Northeast again (Picture: Creative Touch Imaging Ltd/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

Of course, there's been plenty of issues north of the border too. While most of the fires are burning in remote areas, about 400 properties were placed under evacuation orders recently. That was due to a wildfire burning just over a mile north of Peachland, B.C., the Regional District of Central Okanagan's emergency operations centre said in a statement on Wednesday (Picture: Reuters)