A blanket of heavily polluted air covering much of the eastern US is likely to last until Tuesday, as the impact of Canadian wildfires ripples south.
Inbound flights to New York’s LaGuardia Airport were grounded again Thursday due to low visibility. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia and Baltimore regions faced the worst air quality in the country, according to the National Weather Service.
President Joe Biden offered additional support to fight the blazes, as the effects of the smoke shrouded some cities in an apocalyptic tinge. New York state was distributing a million N95 masks on Thursday as officials across the region urged residents to stay inside.
There are almost 450 active fires in Canada, a number similar to Wednesday’s, and about 100 fires in Quebec are burning out of control, according to the latest data from the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System.
Key Stories:
- What to Know About the Wildfire Smoke Drifting into the US
- Choking New Yorkers Get Little Solace From Wildfires Overseas
- Out of Control Fires Rage in Canada, Smoke Covers US Skies
- Canada Wildfires Envelop Millions of North Americans in Smoke
- Big Take: Wildfire Smoke Leaves Children Gasping for Air Years Later
Here’s the latest news: (All times are NY)
Belmont Park Cancels Races, Will Reopen Friday (11:05 a.m.)
The New York Racing Association canceled racing at Belmont Park on Thursday. NYRA plans to reopen the track Friday, a day before its biggest race of the year, the Belmont Stakes.
Nation’s Capital Under ‘Purple’ Alert (10:45 a.m.)
Washington, DC, is under a “Code Purple” air quality alert Thursday, indicating “very unhealthy air conditions for the entire public,” according to the office of Mayor Muriel Bowser.
“Smoke from Canadian wildfires is causing unhealthy air quality in the Washington, DC, area and the northeast United States, and this problem is likely to continue or worsen through Friday,” Bowser’s office said in a statement Thursday.
Schumer Seeks More Help to Assist Canada (10:40 a.m.)
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to double the number of US Forest Service personnel who are helping to address the blazes in Canada.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer said he would send a letter making the request later Thursday. The New York Democrat noted the high levels of pollution that have hit the East Coast and especially his home state, where schools are closing and outdoor activities are being canceled.
“These unprecedented wildfires are a crisis, for both Canada and the United States, so both national must respond speedily and forcefully to contain the blazes,” Schumer said.
‘Extreme Risk’ Seen for Quebec, Ontario (9:52 a.m.)
Large parts of northwestern Quebec, northeastern Ontario and southern Ontario are still at “extreme” risk of fire, the country’s natural resources department said.
Air quality has improved significantly in Ottawa, where smoke had been at extreme levels on Wednesday. In Toronto, the morning skies are hazy, with the city’s air quality health index at 8 on a scale of 10, considered “high risk.” The city’s main school board has canceled all outdoor activities including athletic events and field trips.
Northwell Anticipates Illness Increase (8:15 a.m.)
Northwell Health, New York’s largest health-care provider, said there’s been a mild increase in asthma and wheezing cases but that there hasn’t been a significant jump in overall volume at its hospital emergency departments, according to spokesman Matt Libassi.
At Northwell’s GoHealth urgent care centers in the New York City metropolitan area, Libassi said there’s been a slight increase in sore throats and eye-related complaints.
“We are anticipating an increase in respiratory illnesses and are stocking supplies accordingly,” he said.
Crisis Seen Lasting Until Tuesday (7:19 a.m.)
It will likely be Monday or Tuesday before the larger weather pattern that is pumping the smoke south from Canada starts to break up, according to Zack Taylor, a senior branch forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center. There could be some minor improvement in New York Thursday as the worst of the smoke drifts more to the west.
The plume itself covers most of North America. In the long-term, the only real solution will be if the fires in Canada are brought under control.
NY Alerts to Last Through Midnight (7:15 a.m.)
Air quality alerts will remain in place across New York through midnight, said John Murray, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Upton, New York, on Long Island.
“Unfortunately the smoke is to persist throughout the day and into this evening,” Murray said. “Winds are light, so there is not much opportunity for improvement.”
Flights to LaGuardia Grounded (7 a.m.)
The Federal Aviation Administration said departures to LaGuardia Airport are grounded on low visibility. The FAA said the probability of extension is medium, around 30%-60%.
Canada Blazes Lead World (6:48 a.m.)
As the smoke from Canada’s fires shroud New York City and beyond, data from NASA satellites shows the nation is leading the world in the number of blazes over the past 24 hours.
‘Hazardous’ Conditions in Philadelphia (3:51 a.m.)
“Hazardous” air lingered over Philadelphia early Thursday, according to the National Weather Service’s interactive map. New York continued to see “Unhealthy” to “Very Unhealthy” air quality, while the situation in the Washington, D.C. area was “Unhealthy.”
At Unhealthy levels, people who are active outdoors may start to experience some respiratory effects, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index. Hazardous conditions trigger emergency conditions.
Air Quality to Decrease in South (3:32 a.m.)
The National Weather Service has issued Air Quality Alerts for parts of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, it said in a statement. The impact of the fires has spread into the South, with the air quality in Alabama and Georgia set to decrease on Thursday.
Biden, Trudeau Speak (10:10 p.m. Wednesday)
President Joe Biden offered additional support to fight the wildfires burning in Canada during a call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to a readout of the conversation. The US has already deployed more than 600 firefighters and support personnel, and Biden directed his team to provide all available assets that can rapidly assist in suppressing the blazes.
Trudeau Says Climate Change to Blame (7:21 p.m.)
Trudeau made the comment after the call with President Biden. He added that hundreds of US firefighters have arrived in Canada, and more are on the way.
New York to Distribute N95 Masks (5:31 p.m)
--With assistance from Zachary Fleming, Brian K. Sullivan, Kevin Varley, Georgi Azar, Madison Muller, Derek Decloet, Ari Natter, Laura Litvan and David Papadopoulos.
