New York hits 'hazardous' air pollution from Canada wildfire smoke – live updates - The Independent

Air quality today: New York pollution to remain hazardous as no end in sight for Canadian wildfire smoke | The Independent

Air quality – live: New York pollution to remain hazardous as no end in sight for Canada wildfire smoke

At least 13 US states have air quality alerts issued in places, impacting an estimated 115 million people
Louise Boyle Stuti Mishra Comments

New York City’s air quality remains in the “very unhealthy” category as more thick smoke poured south from Canada’s devastating wildfires.

The Big Apple was blanketed in a science-fiction like orange glow on Wednesday as schools across the East Coast cancelled outdoor activities, Broadway shows were cancelled and airline flights halted.

New York continues to have the worst air quality among major cities across the globe on the Air Quality Index (AQI). At one stage, levels went above 350, said to be “hazardous”.

The air quality measurements out of New York City are the worst ever on record.

At least 13 US states have air quality alerts issued in places, impacting an estimated 115 million people.

The entire US northeast is battling smoke moving south from more than 400 wildfires raging in Canada which have led to mass evacuations in Quebec province.

Canadian officials warned that this could be the country’s worst wildfire season on record, with over 6.7 million acres already scorched.

Although fires are part of the ecosystem in some regions, scientists agree that the climate crisis is making them more frequent and intense.
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All the dos and don’ts to keep safe from wildfire smoke

As the wildfires continue to rage on, air quality in New York is expected to remain worse for a few more days, according to forecasters.But amidst an ongoing climate crisis, many climate scientists warn that wildfires could become more frequent and intense, leading to more air pollution.

Many officials have urged people to limit their time outdoors and wear masks to protect themselves from the smoke. In fact, wildfire smoke carries a number of pollutants that can pose a number of risks and hazardous effects.

My colleague Meredith Clark has this list of dos and don’ts to help keep yourself safe during the Code Red air quality alert.

From masks to AC units: All the dos and don’ts to keep safe from wildfire smoke

New Yorkers have been urged to limit their time outdoors and wear masks as wildfire smoke blankets city
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How long will air pollution in New York last?

New York City has been blanketed in thick smoke last two days with air quality continuing to plummet prompting health alerts across the Northeastern United States.

However, there still seems no end in sight as weather systems are expected to hardly budge.

The smoky blanket billowing from wildfires in Quebec and Nova Scotia and sending plumes of fine particulate matter as far away as North Carolina can persist into Thursday and possibly the weekend, experts say.

That means at least another day, or more, of a dystopian-style detour that’s chased players from ballfields, actors from Broadway stages, delayed thousands of flights and sparked a resurgence in mask-wearing and remote work — all while raising concerns about the health effects of prolonged exposure to such bad air.

The weather system that’s driving the great Canadian-American smoke out — a low-pressure system over Maine and Nova Scotia — “will probably be hanging around at least for the next few days,” US National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Ramsey said.

Conditions are likely to remain unhealthy, at least until the wind direction changes or the fires get put out.

“Since the fires are raging — they’re really large — they’re probably going to continue for weeks. But it’s really just going be all about the wind shift.”

The Independent’s senior climate correspondent Louise Boyle has this wildfire smoke tracker where you can check where the pollution is headed next:

Wildfire smoke tracker: Where the air pollution is headed next

Stalled weather system in Atlantic means smoky conditions likely to continue into weekend for US northeast

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Video: George Washington Bridge disappears under smoke from Canadian Wildfires
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New York pollution skyrockets as wildfire smoke continues

Yellowing and ashen skies smothered New York City’s skyline on Wednesday as wildfire smoke drifting from Canada sparked unhealthy air conditions across the northeastern US.

Air quality above New York had improved slightly on 7 June but rapidly deteriorated in the afternoon, reaching an air quality index of more than 400 in some parts of the city – the worst level globally – and roughly 58 times the World Health Organization’s guidelines.

The federal government’s index for measuring air quality considers anything above 300 “hazardous”. By comparison, the index over the weekend was 20.

Alex Woodward reports.

New York City air pollution from wildfire smoke spikes to hazardous ratings

Tens of millions of Americans are under air quality alerts in 13 states
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Photos from New York’s apocalyptic day of wildfire smoke

The skies across the northeastern United States, including New York were engulfed by smoke flowing from Canada as roughly 400 wildfires continue to rage in the country.

New York City was the world’s most polluted major city on Wednesday, surpassing Delhi, Baghdad, Kuwait and Dhaka, according to ratings by IQAir, a Swiss technology company that monitors air quality.

The worst impact of the pollution was visible in the tri-state area where visibility plummeted and skies turned hazy. The sun and the moon were also blotted to a deep orange by the smoky conditions.

‘Apocalyptic’ photos capture smoky haze blanketing New York City

Residents in masks, hazy skies and blood moon, scenes from New York show the impact of plummeting air quality
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Wildfire smoke shuts down multiple Broadway shows

Jodie Comer ended her one-woman show Prima Facie early on Wednesday (7 June) due to the “hazardous” air quality in New York.

The air quality in the US city reached record lows after thick smoke billowed south from Canada’s devastating wildfires.

An audience member at the matinee production of Prima Facie at the John Golden Theatre told Deadline that Comer, 30, appeared on stage 10 minutes late.

Tom Murray reports.

Jodie Comer halts Broadway show due to New York air quality: ‘I can’t breathe’

Air quality in New York City was ranked number one for the worst air quality in the world on Wednesday afternoon
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Wildfire smoke tracker: Where the air pollution is headed next

The northeast of the United States is battling smoke from 400 wildfires raging across Canada which have burned more than 6 million acres and led to mass evacuations.

And it’s far from over: Canadian officials warned that this could be the country’s worst wildfire season on record.

Smoke has darkened skies and made it difficult to breathe in at least half a dozen states and large parts of Canada, including major cities like New York, Toronto, Ottawa, Washington DC and Philadelphia.

Louise Boyle has the details.

Wildfire smoke tracker: Where the air pollution is headed next

Stalled weather system in Atlantic means smoky conditions likely to continue into weekend for US northeast
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AOC and Bernie Sanders warn that Canada wildfire smoke is sign of climate crisis catastrophe to come

Leaders from across the worlds of politics, entertainment, and activism warned on Wednesday that the wildfire smoke blanketing the East Coast today is a sign of the climate crisis.

“It bears repeating how unprepared we are for the climate crisis,” New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter on Wednesday, referencing the smoke and recent soaring temperatures in Puerto Rico. “We must adapt our food systems, energy grids, infrastructure, healthcare, etc ASAP to prepare for what’s to come and catch up to what is already here.”

Fellow progressive Bernie Sanders sounded a similar note, writing on Twitter: “Right now, 98 MILLION people on the East Coast are under air quality alerts from Canadian fires and, last night, NYC had the worst air quality in the world.”

More details in our full story.

AOC and Bernie warn that Canada wildfire smoke is sign of climate crisis catastrophe

115 million Americans under air quality alerts
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Don’t forget: plenty can’t ‘stay inside’ during New York air crisis

The climate crisis affects all of us, but it doesn’t affect all of us equally.

As Gustavo Ajche, an organiser for delivery workers in New York City reminds us, it is working class people and the poor who have the least ability to pack up, stay inside, and avoid the worst impacts.

“We are essential workers we are working at all times regardless of the weather conditions, very hot, extreme cold, storms and this week poor air quality,” he wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.
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What are members of Congress saying about the wildfire smoke?

Elected leaders have weighed in about the wildfire smoke traveling across the East Coast. Here are some of the most notable comments.