Smog returns to Thunder Bay, Environment Canada issues special air quality statement

THUNDER BAY - Afternoon news for July 19, 2025: Due to multiple forest fires in Northern Ontario and the Canadian prairie provinces, large amounts of smoke are moving south with the north wind, expected to rapidly worsen the city's air quality from this evening and possibly last until early Sunday morning.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued the latest "Special Air Quality Statement" to the City of Thunder Bay at 13:59 EDT, reminding residents that smoke will reduce visibility and increase health risks, advising people to reduce time outdoors and consider postponing outdoor activities.

The statement covers Thunder Bay, Nipigon, and Kakabeka Falls and surrounding areas, warning that smoke may cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, and mild coughing; the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with heart or lung conditions should be especially cautious.

Weather forecasts show that Sunday's daytime temperature in Thunder Bay could reach 25 °C, with lingering smoke, turning partly cloudy overnight with a low of 11 °C.

As of this week, the total number of forest fires in western and northern provinces has made this one of Canada's most severe fire seasons in recent years, with Manitoba even declaring a state of emergency, and thick smoke has spread to several U.S. Midwest states.