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.
Yankees and White Sox meet to decide whether they will play tonight’s game
Officials from the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox met at 4pm on Wednesday to decide whether to play tonight’s game, according to The New York Daily News.
This was the scene this afternoon at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx amid New York City’s precipitous decline in air quality.
More wildfire smoke possible in the coming days and weeks, National Weather Service says
While the wildfires in Canada remain “large, uncontained, and active, they will likely continue to generate smoke”, the US National Weather Service said on Wednesday.
“So in the next week or two at the very least, a lot will be determined by the wind direction and where that causes the smoke to spread,” the agency added.
The weather pattern will remain much the same through this weekend with a stalled low-pressure system near Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces.
This means northerly winds from the fires in Quebec, directing the smoke into portions of the east coast, NWS added.
Yankees, other pro sports teams cancel games as poor air quality continues
The MLB’s New York Yankees are among the numerous professional sports franchises that canceled games on Wednesday due to Canadian wildfires causing poor air quality throughout the Northeast.
The team announced on Wednesday it would reschedule a game against the Chicago White Sox for tomorrow.
Other teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies and the WNBA’s New York Liberty, also canceled games.
Flights were temporarily grounded due to ‘hazardous’ air pollution
Federal authorities temporarily grounded flights at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport “due to low visibility” from wildfire smoke smothering the East Coast.
Departures were grounded until 2pm (ET) on 7 June, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The agency also delayed flights from the upper midwestern US and on east coast bound for LaGuardia.
Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey also announced a ground delay. The airport announced that the “current smoke condition” may impact flights and urged travelers to check with their airlines “to determine the status of your flight.”
Alex Woodward has more below.
LaGuardia flights temporarily grounded as wildfire smoke clogs air travel across US
New York City’s skies darkened on Wednesday afternoon as wildfire smoke drifted across Northeast
WATCH: Kathy Hochul addresses New York about air quality crisis
New York governor Kathy Hochul said in a press conference on Wednesday that the state is facing an “unprecedented situation” as wildfire smoke darkens the skies and air quality is plummeting.
“It is a very dangerous situation,” she said. “Last message, please don’t go out if you don’t have to...This is about your health and your family’s health. Stay indoors. Use the masks.”
The New York official warned that the plume of Canadian wildfire smoke above New York is shifting west, and said the worst of the conditions could abate by this weekend.
“We’re expecting over the next couple of days they’re going to be heading westward,” she said. “Buffalo and western New York are going to be in trouble tomorrow.”
Air quality rating continues to climb as smoke passes over New York
The Air Quality Index for New York City, which measures the level of harmful pollutants in the air, continues to climb well past safe levels, as wildfire smoke from Canada blankets the East Coast.
A recent reading from the federal government’s AirNow suggests AQI has climbed above 400, within the range federal regulators consider “hazardous” and suggesting “emergency conditions” where “everyone is more likely to be affected.”
How to protect pets from wildfire smoke amid air quality alert
New York City and much of the tri-state area has been blanketed by smoke caused by raging wildfires in Canada. The poor air conditions have continued to spread throughout the northeastern United States.
On Wednesday (7 June), New York City was ranked number one for the worst air quality in the world, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 342 and air pollution levels described as “hazardous”.
Many officials have since advised people to limit their time outdoors and wear masks to protect themselves from the smoke. Public schools have also cancelled outdoor activities, including recess and gym classes.
Experts estimate that each hour of exposure to wildfire smoke is equivalent to smoking cigarettes continuously for the same amount of time, but that’s just for humans. Imagine how wildfire smoke affects our beloved pets? In fact, poor air quality may pose an even greater risk to animals because of their much smaller size.
Meredith Clark has the full story.
How to protect pets from wildfire smoke amid air quality alert
Wildfire smoke may pose an even greater risk to our beloved pets
New York will distribute 1 N95 million masks as wildfire problems continue
New York will distribute one million free N95 masks as wildfire smoke continues to blanket the state.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday that 400,000 masks will be distributed at public transit stations, state parks, and New York City’s Javits convention centre.
Another 600,000 masks will be made available for local governments to use from the New York Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services stockpile.
New York air quality almost twice as bad as San Francisco during catastrophic wildfire season
Even during the worst of California fire seasons, the air quality wasn’t as bad as it is in New York right now.
Across the fire seasons between 2017 and 2020, in which some of the most destructive blazes in California history occured, air quality problems peaked at an AQI of 249, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The current AQI reading in New York is approaching double that figure.
WATCH: Mesmerising drone footage shows New York skyline blanketed in orange haze
Aerial footage captured above New York City shows an orange glow illuminating the skyline as smoke poured south from Canada’s devastating wildfires.
The mesmerising glow from the wildfire smoke blanketed the New York City skyline in an orange haze.
People have been advised to avoid going outdoors and to wear masks to protect themselves from the smoke.
Authorities temporarily grounded flights at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport “due to low visibility” while schools cancelled outdoor activities.
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