Tens of thousands of Americans across the southeastern United States have been advised to remain indoors as dangerous toxins contaminate the air. The National Weather Service has activated air quality warnings in Georgia and South Carolina due to a combination of ground-level ozone pollution and hazardous smoke from wildfires sweeping through the region this week.
The alerts, issued on Thursday, stem from a convergence of high atmospheric pressure causing stagnant air, elevated temperatures, low humidity, and smoke drifting north from intense fires burning across southern Georgia and northern Florida. Wildfire smoke has emerged as the primary contributor to the pollution in these states, releasing plumes of fine particulate matter—microscopic toxic particles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs.
The smallest of these particles, known as PM2.5, produced by wildfire smoke can exacerbate stagnant air conditions, effectively trapping pollution near ground level with minimal wind to disperse it from populated areas. An estimated four to five million Americans reside in zones under fire danger and air quality warnings through at least 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, with some advisories extending into the weekend.
Officials from the National Weather Service in South Carolina warned: "Ozone will be in the Orange Zone today, meaning the air quality is forecast to be unhealthy for sensitive groups." A "Code Orange" designation indicates that the air will be harmful for individuals with lung disease, heart conditions, and respiratory issues, as well as for older adults and children. Inhaling these toxins can damage lung tissue, worsen asthma, and contribute to heart attacks and strokes.
The agency further noted: "Hazy conditions and a smoky smell can be expected across much of central Georgia and parts of north Georgia through Friday." AccuWeather has attributed the dangerous conditions in Georgia to severe drought, extremely low humidity, and gusty winds, creating a perfect storm for wildfires to rage across thousands of acres.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham commented: "It’s unusual to see this level of wildfire activity across the Southeast in April. When soils and vegetation dry out this much, it only takes a single spark and a gust of wind to create a fast-moving wildfire."
The US Environmental Protection Agency reported that air quality over Columbia, South Carolina, home to over 140,000 residents, reached the "unhealthy" zone for all inhabitants on Thursday morning. Large portions of Georgia, including areas around Augusta and Macon, have been classified as "unhealthy for sensitive groups."
National Weather Service officials urged anyone in the path of the wildfire smoke to reduce or avoid outdoor activities, particularly strenuous work or exercise. The greatest danger is expected during the afternoon and early evening when pollution levels peak. Individuals with respiratory issues should move indoors, keep windows and doors closed, and if using air conditioning, ensure the fresh-air intake is closed and the filter is clean to prevent smoke from entering.
In South Carolina, ozone alerts are anticipated to remain in effect until midnight in multiple cities, including Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Greer, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Taylors, Easley, and Clemson. Wildfire smoke warnings are active throughout the state, affecting Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Columbia, Aiken, North Augusta, and Lexington.
In Georgia, Atlanta and its surrounding metropolitan area will be under an air quality alert for both smoke and ozone pollution throughout Thursday. Two of the largest fires in the state are the Pineland Road Fire and one in Brantley County. The Georgia Forestry Commission reported that over 50,000 acres have burned so far in 2026, more than double the typical wildfire destruction for this time of year.
Fires in Florida have also propelled wildfire smoke northward into Georgia and South Carolina. First responders in Florida have been tackling major blazes across the state's panhandle, including a massive wildfire in Collier County's Big Cypress National Preserve that has consumed 35,000 acres.
AccuWeather has issued a dire forecast for the remainder of the year, predicting that between 5.5 and 8 million acres of land across the US could burn. In contrast, only 5.1 million acres burned in 2025, well below the historical average of 7 million over the last two decades. "The fires can have far-reaching effects as winds carry smoke across the continent. When winds align with larger blazes, smoke can create a hazy sky and reduce air quality in areas hundreds or even thousands of miles away," the AccuWeather team warned.
Heavy wildfire smoke can also produce larger particles of air pollution known as PM10, which are tiny solid particles or liquid droplets floating in the air, less than 10 micrometers in diameter—thinner than a human hair. These inhalable particles can penetrate deep into the lungs when breathed in and are typically generated from dust from construction, pollen, mold, smoke, soot, industrial emissions, and wind-blown dirt. Like PM2.5, these larger pollution particles carried by smoke can exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma and contribute to heart attacks and strokes, leading to premature death.
