Smoky, Steamy Air Mass Makes For Hazy Hazard Across MA: See Latest Forecast

A soupy mixture of yellow and orange haze, heat and humidity turned Massachusetts into a murky mess this week as plumes from the Canadian wildfires brought both the smell and sight of smoke to ground levels across the state.

The state Department of Environmental Protection issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particulates through midnight on Wednesday, with another band of heavy, smoke-filled air expected to pass through the region on Thursday.

"Air is unhealthy for sensitive children and adults," the National Weather Service said, "such as those with asthma, lung or heart disease, and older adults. Sensitive children and adults should limit prolonged outdoor activity."

The arrival of smoke from the province of Quebec did temper the extreme heat on both Tuesday and Wednesday, with forecast highs in the upper 90s instead mostly settling closer to the high 80s to near 90 degrees.

But high dew points and the yellow/orange sky made for an unhealthy and uncomfortable mix of moist and murky conditions.

Smoky skies will be variable, with clearing possible late Wednesday before more widespread haze is forecast to arrive on Thursday.

The NWS said skies should clear Friday with much lower humidity before a chance of rain this weekend.

See Latest Forecast (National Weather Service):

Wednesday

Patchy smoke. Mostly cloudy and hot, with a high near 90. Northwest wind 9 to 13 mph.

Wednesday Night

Widespread haze. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 69. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

Thursday

Widespread haze. Sunny, with a high near 86. West wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Night

Widespread haze before 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. West wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light northwest after midnight.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 87. West wind 6 to 8 mph.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Light and variable wind.

Saturday

Showers likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night

Showers. Low around 67. South wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday

A chance of showers before 10 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. North wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 3 to 8 mph.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 8 mph.

Tuesday

A chance of thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.