Overview
- The Met Office said Tuesday that smoke from North American wildfires has drifted over parts of the UK, giving normally clear blue skies a hazy or grey, 'opaque' appearance.
- Reports cite Canada as the source, where more than 900 active wildfires are burning and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes.
- Weather services say the plume has crossed North America and the Atlantic before reaching the UK, showing how upper-level winds can carry smoke thousands of miles.
- Forecasters expect warm but settled weather through Friday with southern daytime highs near 28°C and northern areas around 25–26°C, and they note weather charts show a possible return to heat in the coming weeks.
- The smoke could lower visibility and affect air quality for people with respiratory problems, so authorities and monitoring services may issue local guidance if conditions worsen.