Post by Admin on Jun 7, 2023 15:34:11 GMT -4
New York City air quality reaches dangerous levels due to Canadian wildfire smoke
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Smoky conditions from wildfires in Canada seemingly turned the streets of New York City hues of orange on Wednesday afternoon as the city topped the list of of worst air quality in the world.
The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert for New York City and parts of the Tri-State area. The U.S. government's air quality tracker labeled the air in NYC "hazardous."
Health officials are urging area residents to limit outdoor activities on Wednesday as air quality is expected to remain at "unhealthy" to "very unhealthy" levels with no improvements until Thursday at the earliest.
That will leave the city's air quality advisory "in place for the next few days," Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol said. "We expect this to be a multiple-day event. This is not something that is normal."
New York City schools canceled all outdoor and afterschool activities and officials reminded parents that schools are already scheduled to be closed Thursday and Friday for Anniversary Day and Clerical Day.
Mayor Eric Adams called the Air Quality Alert an, "unprecedented event in our city and New Yorkers must take precaution."
The FAA slowed flight traffic in and out of Newark and LaGuardia airports due to the poor visibility.
Smoke from Canada's wildfires has been moving into the United States since last month. The most recent fires near Quebec have been burning for at least several days.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said hazy skies, reduced visibility and the odor of burning wood are likely, and that the smoke will linger for a few days in northern states.
"It's not unusual for us to get fire smoke in our area. It's very typical in terms of northwest Canada," said Darren Austin, a meteorologist and senior air quality specialist with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. But, usually, the smoke has been aloft and hasn't affected people's health, he said.
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Smoky conditions from wildfires in Canada seemingly turned the streets of New York City hues of orange on Wednesday afternoon as the city topped the list of of worst air quality in the world.
The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert for New York City and parts of the Tri-State area. The U.S. government's air quality tracker labeled the air in NYC "hazardous."
Health officials are urging area residents to limit outdoor activities on Wednesday as air quality is expected to remain at "unhealthy" to "very unhealthy" levels with no improvements until Thursday at the earliest.
That will leave the city's air quality advisory "in place for the next few days," Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol said. "We expect this to be a multiple-day event. This is not something that is normal."
New York City schools canceled all outdoor and afterschool activities and officials reminded parents that schools are already scheduled to be closed Thursday and Friday for Anniversary Day and Clerical Day.
Mayor Eric Adams called the Air Quality Alert an, "unprecedented event in our city and New Yorkers must take precaution."
The FAA slowed flight traffic in and out of Newark and LaGuardia airports due to the poor visibility.
Smoke from Canada's wildfires has been moving into the United States since last month. The most recent fires near Quebec have been burning for at least several days.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said hazy skies, reduced visibility and the odor of burning wood are likely, and that the smoke will linger for a few days in northern states.
"It's not unusual for us to get fire smoke in our area. It's very typical in terms of northwest Canada," said Darren Austin, a meteorologist and senior air quality specialist with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. But, usually, the smoke has been aloft and hasn't affected people's health, he said.
