Will smoke from Canadian wildfires reach Florida? How to check air quality in Brevard County

More than 100 million Americans have felt the impact of poor or hazardous air quality as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts into the United States.

Alerts have been issued from New England to the Southeast, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

But will the smoke come as far south as Brevard County?

➤ Interactive map: Check air quality in Brevard County

Here's what we know so far.

Will smoke from Canadian wildfires reach Brevard County?

Trace amounts of smoke may make for hazy skies, especially visible at sunrise and sunset, according to John Pendergrast, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Melbourne.

Residents shouldn't even be able to detect a smell of smoke — at least not from the Canadian wildfires.

The haze should make for some good sunrise and sunset photos over the next few days, but Florida isn't close enough to expect hazardous or unhealthy air quality, Pendergrast said.

The National Weather Service Miami tweeted a map showing the smoke plume moving into the Atlantic.

Florida air quality: Will the Canadian wildfire smoke affect air quality in Florida? Here’s what experts say

How is the air quality in Brevard County? How can you check local conditions?

Can't see the map?

How is the air quality in the Northeast?

New York City's air quality was the worst among the world's major cities for a time Tuesday morning, according to IQAir, an air quality monitoring website.

As of Wednesday afternoon, IQAir said New York City's pollution was fourth-worst in the world, behind New Delhi, India; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Toronto.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that the city's air quality index on Wednesday climbed up to 484 out of a scale of 500, more than double the level that was reached Tuesday night. The city's air quality health advisory has been extended through Thursday night.

Canada wildfire smoke updates: At least 100 million Americans affected by air quality alerts

How hazardous is the air in the Northeast?

Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning vegetation, building materials, and other materials, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How to stay safe as air quality drops: Wildfires in Canada are impacting US air quality. Here's how to protect yourself.

Breathing in the smoke can cause:

• Coughing

• Trouble breathing normally

• Stinging eyes

• Scratchy throat

• Runny nose

• Irritated sinuses

• Wheezing or shortness of breath

• Chest pain

• Headaches

• Asthma attack

• Tiredness

• Fast heartbeat

How far has the smoke drifted?

The poor air quality on Wednesday even made it as far south as Atlanta, where the National Weather Service said: "particularly sensitive groups may be affected in north Georgia."

EPA spokesperson Shayla R. Powell, said "more than 100 million people are affected by air quality alerts today, ranging from Code Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) and above. This area includes much of the Northeast U.S., extending to Philadelphia to Chicago to the west and Atlanta to the south.

"We expect that air quality in this area is predominantly impacted by the Canadian wildfires, although more localized pollution emissions and meteorology may also play a factor," Powell said.

Where is the smoke coming from?

In Canada, an estimated 414 fires are burning, 239 of them out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Canada has recorded about 2,214 wildfires so far this year, according to Canadian officials.

It's the worst wildfire season the country has ever seen, according to Canadian Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair.

More than 8 million acres have burned, including about 500,000 acres in Quebec.

In British Columbia, officials say lighting causes about 60% of fires while human activity accounts for 40%.

How long will the poor air quality last in the Northeast?

The National Weather Service said the wind trajectory that allowed smoke and hazy conditions to be seen in the New York City area could continue for the next few days.

What are air quality alerts?

Air quality alerts are indicators the air is unsafe to breathe for certain people. Alerts are triggered by a number of factors, including the detection of fine-particle pollution, which can irritate the lungs.

Wildfire smoke blankets eastern US: Graphics show how smoke from Canadian wildfires is turning US skies hazy – and hazardous

Contributors: Doyle Rice; Terry Collins; Thao Nguyen and Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard County air quality map. Check local conditions