Air quality: Noxious smoke eases over US but wildfires still major threat in Canada
The smoke has shifted south and west in the US impacting cities like Chicago, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Cleveland after enveloping New York for days
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Smoke from hundreds of wildfires in Canada reached Europe on Friday after blanketing provinces and large parts of the United States in thick smoke this week.
And while the noxious smoke was finally easing over the northeast on Friday, the fires still posed a major threat.
More than 420 fires are raging across Canada from British Columbia in the west to Nova Scotia in the east. At least half of these fires are burning out of control, and tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes.
While air quality improved in large cities like New York, Washington DC and Philadelphia on Friday, pollution increased across central and southern states including the cities of Chicago, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
Global temperature rise, caused by emissions from burning fossil fuels, is leading to more large, erratic wildfires around the world. And it’s a vicious circle: the emissions pumped into the atmosphere by fires add to global heating, further drying out the land and vegetation, making it more susceptible to catching fire.
Scenes from a smoke-wreathed Manhattan
BREAKING: Flights grounded at La Guardia Airport
Flights have been grounded at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport “due to low visibility” until 2pm local time, according to the Federal Aviation Authority.
Canada’s wildfire season starts early with a ferocious wave of blazes
Canada’s wildfire season started early this year and accelerated very quickly, exhausting firefighting resources across the country, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre spokesperson Jennifer Kamau said.
Smoke from the blazes in various parts of the country has been lapping into the U.S. since last month but intensified with a recent spate of fires in Quebec, where more than 100 fires were burning and considered out of control Tuesday.
The largest town in Northern Quebec — Chibougamau, population about about 7,500 — was evacuated Tuesday, after another Quebec community was left to burn Monday, drawing the ire of local residents.
Quebec Premier François Legault said Monday that authorities had no choice because the fire around the hamlet of Clova was too intense to send in water bombers. That remained true Tuesday, he said, but he noted that no homes had burned.
Kamau said more than 950 firefighters and other personnel have already arrived from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and crews from Costa Rica will be arriving soon.
Across the border, the effects of the blazes blotted out skylines and irritated throats.
“It’s sunny, but there’s no sun,” Michele Kluk said as she emerged from a Target store in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, with “a bunch” of allergy medication in response to the air quality.
The Associated Press
Today is ‘Clean Air Day’ in Canada
In a bitter twist, today - June 7, 2023 - is Clean Air Day in Canada, a time to “recognize how important good air quality is to our health, our environment, and the economy”.
In a press release, the Canadian government notes: “Air pollution knows no boundaries. It can affect every area of Canada including urban and rural areas. That’s why this year’s theme is ‘Clean Air Everywhere’.”
Air pollution contributes to over 15,000 premature deaths each year in Canada.
Toronto currently has the third worst air quality of any city in the world, according to global monitor IQAir.
New York City hits ‘hazardous’ levels of air pollution
New York City was ranked number one for the worst air quality in the world at 2pm local time on Wednesday.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) for the city is at 342 - a “hazardous” level of air pollution, according to global monitor IQAir.
In a sign of how extreme conditions are New Delhi in India - which regularly experiences terrible air quality - was in second place with an AQI of 190. Toronto is in fourth place with AQI 160.
Watch: ‘Unbelievable’ time-lapse of New York City being enshrouded in smoke
The National Weather Service described scenes in New York City as “almost unbelievable” as the agency shared a timelapse video of smoke enshrouding Manhattan.
“Those vulnerable to poor air quality, including seniors and young children, should limit time outdoors if possible,” NWS said.
Scenes from New York City on Wednesday June 7th, 2023
Looking back: ‘Bladerunner’ skies on the US West Coast
The United States has been here before: In September 2020, dozens of wildfires raging in California, Oregon and Washington blanketed the west coast in dense smoke and turned the sky a deep, menacing orange.
The Independent’s piece from 10 September 2020 is at the link below.
Why did the sky turn to orange and red during wildfires?
Dozens of wildfires, raging in California, Oregon and Washington, has blanketed the west coast in dense smoke this week
Satellites capture Quebec’s ferocious wildfires from space
Satellites have captured Quebec’s ferocious wildfires from space as smoke continues to blanket large parts of Canada and Northeastern United States.
“This cluster of fires is the main culprit for smoky skies across the Northeast US,” reported the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University.
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