Dangerous smog from Canada’s wildfires continued to wreak havoc on millions of people on the East Coast on Thursday.
Schools, theatres, libraries, flights and sporting events have all been closed or canceled on high alert due to the air quality issues.
New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia suffer from poor air quality worse than that of the world’s most polluted cities such as Lahore (Pakistan) and Delhi (India).
Here we unveil a full list of canceled events and closed institutions in several northeastern states due to the nicotine yellow haze.
People try to visit the Central Park Zoo as smoke from Canadian wildfires casts a haze over the area on June 7, 2023. The zoo is closed today
NYC was hit by smoke that lingered in the city for several days
The State of New York
The New York City Public Library had a late Thursday opening time of 11 a.m. due to smoky conditions in the city.
The organization wrote in a tweet, “After closing NYPL locations as early as 07/06 due to poor air quality for the safety of the public and our employees. were closed, they will open at 11:00 today.”
Four of New York City’s zoos — the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo and Prospect Park Zoo — will be closed Thursday “for the safety of our employees, visitors and animals.” The New York Aquarium is also closed.
Broadway productions of Hamilton and Camelot were canceled on Wednesday.
The Hamlet production of Free Shakespeare in the Park has also been cancelled.
The Public Theater has canceled the final dress rehearsal for Hamlet – meaning the play’s first two previews on Thursday and Friday have been cancelled.
And on Wednesday, Broadway star Jodie Comer, who is currently starring in “Prima Facie,” had to pull out of her matinee performance because she had trouble breathing onstage.
Professional sports games were also canceled Wednesday — including the Yankees versus the Chicago White Sox. It’s unclear if MLB games will be held on Thursday. Pictured: Yankee Stadium
A map of the impact of wildfire smoke on east coast air quality. Purple areas are considered “dangerous”, red is “unhealthy”, orange is “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and yellow is “moderate”.
New York City also announced that alternate site parking rules would be suspended Thursday.
And professional sports games were also canceled on Wednesday — including the Yankees versus the Chicago White Sox. It’s unclear if MLB games will be held on Thursday.
Due to the hazardous conditions, LaGuardia Airports imposed a ground delay Thursday morning.
In New York City, all outdoor activities in public schools were canceled on Wednesday.
Thursday is a regular school-free day that is used for staff development, so the children would not have been to school anyway.
However, the New York Department of Education said Thursday will be a remote work day for employees due to air conditions.
In upstate New York, the Baldwinsville Community Band has canceled rehearsals due to smoke – while the Minoa Free Library has had to close due to continued haze inside.
People sit on a bench while air quality is poor as smoke from Canadian wildfires is carried by the wind in New York, USA
A view of the hazy city on June 7th
The Albany School District was ordered Thursday to require all physical education classes to remain indoors.
All outdoor field trips at all schools in the city have been postponed and rescheduled.
In Ithaca, the city’s school district tweeted Thursday morning, “Air quality remains unhealthy.” The ICSD will be open and will implement “cold weather” bus procedures and move all activities indoors.
“We will continue to monitor and provide updates throughout the day.”
And in Syracuse on Thursday, all outdoor activities at schools, including sports, breaks and field trips, were canceled as a precaution.
The city’s school district tweeted, “Recent air quality reports in CNY indicate that tomorrow (06/08) we should see an improvement in air quality.” As a precaution, we continue to cancel all outdoor activities incl. sports, breaks, field trips, activities after school and in the evening.
Universities have ordered classes to be held online while the smog persists.
Molloy College and Adelphi University on Long Island have chosen the remote solution.
New Jersey
In New Jersey, some school districts released students several hours early yesterday and also canceled outdoor activities.
The Clifton School District canceled after-school activities on Wednesday and installed air purifiers in classrooms.
The High Point School District released children early and canceled high school pep talks and football games. Extracurricular activities have been canceled in Wayne and New Milford districts.
Essex County’s Turtle Back Zoo announced Thursday that many of the animals will not be on display due to air quality concerns. The zoo was closed on Wednesday due to the smoke (pictured)
A person jogs through the haze in New Jersey with the Manhattan skyline in the background
All schools in the Elizabeth, Irvington, Newark, Orange and Union districts were canceled Thursday.
Pupils at schools in Clifton, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover Township, Manchester Regional High School, Montclair, Wallington, Wayne, West Milford and West Orange will be released early Thursday for the second straight day.
Meanwhile, college students at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Kean University and the Stevens Institute will be doing distance learning on Thursday.
In New Jersey, students at Wayne Public Schools will go home early on Thursday and follow a “minimum daily schedule” because of the air.
Public schools in the tri-state area were canceled Thursday
Public Schools in New York
Public Schools in Newark
Elizabeth Public Schools
Union Public Schools
Orange Public Schools
Public Schools in Freeport
Long Beach Public Schools
Public Schools in Yonkers
And Essex County’s Turtle Back Zoo announced Thursday that many of the animals will not be on display due to air quality concerns.
All flights to Newark Liberty International Airport were also delayed on Thursday.
Washington, D.C
In Washington DC, the National Zoo closed its doors on Thursday due to poor air quality.
Schools across the city are also moving their breaks indoors, reports NBC.
Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Fairfax County and DC Public Schools canceled all outdoor activities Thursday.
Major League Baseball games in New York and Philadelphia were canceled on Wednesday. The Yankees’ game against the Chicago White Sox has been postponed.
The Philadelphia Phillies’ game against the visiting Detroit Tigers has been rescheduled for Thursday – but it’s unclear if tonight will happen.
A purple alert went off in Washington DC Thursday morning, indicating air quality is very unhealthy.
DC Homeland Security said people should stay indoors as much as possible.
The sun rises through a haze over the US Capitol on June 8, 2023 in Washington, DC
The US Capitol is barely visible from the National Mall as a thick layer of smoke blankets the capital
Philadelphia
The Philadelphia School District on Thursday urged students to stay indoors, cancel field trips and keep windows closed because of the ordeal.
They also urged teachers to encourage their students to wear masks.
The district said in an update Thursday morning, “Students are encouraged to wear masks on their way to and from school.”
“At schools, external activities such as breaks, field trips and field days will be moved indoors, postponed or canceled where possible.”
“The county’s athletics office will assist schools to reschedule previously scheduled outdoor sports games.”
A Detroit Tigers player walks through the outfield at Citizens Bank Park after a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers was postponed due to poor air quality
A Southwest plane approaches LaGuardia Airport in New York
“In addition, all windows and doors in the school buildings will remain closed to minimize air pollution.” Temperatures are not expected to rise above 30°C for the rest of the week, according to forecasts.
“Although warm, internal temperatures should not reach levels that would justify an early release.”
All incoming flights to Philadelphia International Airport were grounded Thursday morning “due to poor visibility.”
Flights from the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Ohio to Philly Airport have been suspended, the FAA said.
The Philadelphia Zoo was closed throughout Thursday due to air quality concerns.
A person pedals past the Philadelphia skyline shrouded in haze on June 8, 2023
Connecticut
The Connecticut Inter-Scholastic Athletic Conference postponed its tennis and lacrosse games Wednesday due to smoke.
Officials feared the high-intensity high school games could impact players’ health.
The Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut is still open Thursday.