The DC area is experiencing some of its worst particle pollution on record Friday, as smoke from Canadian wildfires streaks across the region.
The smoke is casting a thick haze, reducing visibility and creating eerie skies.
Here are some photos and videos from across the region from Friday:
Olney, MD - Smoke is settling in already this morning around the area as Canadian wildfire smoke becomes trapped near the surface under light winds, leading to hazy skies and deteriorating air quality. #MdWx #Wx @capitalweather @MeteoMdWX @JustinWeather @Bopegfs @WashingtonianWx pic.twitter.com/dnNavl1hIF
— MyDrone.Pro (@MyDronePro) July 17, 2026
Smoky Potomac River and sun from the 14th St Bridge @capitalweather
— Brian Kalish (@BrianKal) July 17, 2026
(Taken from Uber backseat) pic.twitter.com/GSIeWFNhgt
@capitalweather The wildfire smoke smell is very strong and visibility is being limited. Photo taken in Glen Burnie, MD. pic.twitter.com/jO9Z89RUHo
— TIMOTHY BUTZ (@timbutz70) July 17, 2026
Crazy hazy sun this morning. @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/pZ2fItU4D4
— Mark Bednar (@MarkBednar) July 17, 2026
Wow that Canadian smoke haze is no joke. This is a panorama of DC at “sunrise” except there is almost nothing visible - no sun, no monuments, no @Reagan_Airport, just barely Rosslyn. @capitalweather @spann @PoPville @dougkammerer pic.twitter.com/xdaSE0sCyg
— Stewart Verdery (@StewartVerdery) July 17, 2026
On Thursday evening, before the smoke became so thick, it intensified the sunset across the area. Here are a couple photos shared with us:
