Air quality in the Washington, D.C., area plummeted overnight as smoke from wildfires in Canada travels south into the United States.

The National Weather Service is advising that people in much of the northeast and mid-Atlantic should avoid outdoor activities on Wednesday because the air quality is unhealthy.

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"Wildfire smoke moving southward out of Canada and over the northern part of the country has triggered Air Quality Alerts over parts of the Northeast into the southern Mid-Atlantic," the National Weather Service said on Wednesday.

AirNow rated the air quality in Washington, D.C., as "unhealthy" at 8 a.m. local time, meaning "members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects." The rating was 6 points short of being "very unhealthy," which means that "the risk of health effects is increased for everyone."

The National Weather Service Baltimore-Washington is advising that exposure to poor air quality can cause headaches, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and irritation in the eyes and throat, among other adverse reactions. They also recommend that "wearing a mask may help limit irritation for those suffering from respiratory illnesses."

Air quality in Washington, D.C., is expected to get worse later on Wednesday, with the evening having the worst air conditions of the day.

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Smoke is expected to remain in the Washington, D.C., area through Thursday and Friday.

More than 150 active wildfires in Quebec are fueling the smoke that has drifted south of the border in recent days, leading to adverse air conditions in New York City on Tuesday and poor air quality in the nation's capital on Wednesday.