Wildfire smoke could impact Chicago-area air quality this weekend NBC Chicago [Video]

Wildfire smoke from several different blazes is set to drift over the Chicago area in coming days, potentially impacting air quality in the region.

Those fires, which are burning in Canada and in parts of northern North Dakota and Minnesota, could send smoke high into the atmosphere, according to the NBC 5 Storm Team.

That smoke is then expected to begin drifting toward the Chicago area as a backdoor cold front begins to push toward the south, shifting winds out of the north and providing opportunity for that smoke to impact air quality in the region.

According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, that smoke could begin arriving Friday afternoon and will be especially noticeable in the evening Friday, though it could end up sticking around for a good chunk of the weekend.

Parts of Michigan and Wisconsin could even see heavy smoke from the fires, according to forecast models.