New Yorkers wore masks again on Tuesday as thick smoke stemming from Canadian wildfires in the north descended over the city.
Pictures showed an orange glow hanging over New York City at sunset, hiding iconic structures like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty.
According to the US government’s online platform AirNow, air quality was “very unhealthy” across the city and also warned against any outdoor activities.
Across from Manhattan in the Bronx, Yankees fans watching the baseball game in the evening reported smelling the smoke filling the stadium.
Meanwhile, a game played by their minor-league affiliates, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, has been postponed “due to poor air quality.”
In parts of Brooklyn and Queens, the air quality index was just as high at around 11 p.m. at 226. AQI values vary between 0 and 500. Higher than 200 are considered rare.
Across from Manhattan in the Bronx, Yankees fans watching the baseball game at night reported that they could smell the smoke filling the stadium
The sun is veiled as it rises in a hazy, smoky sky behind the Empire State Building in New York City on June 6
“Statue of Liberty” is surrounded by smoke from wildfires in Canada
The Manhattan skyline is shrouded in haze and smoke on Tuesday
A blurred view of Manhattan from Brooklyn as smoke from Canadian wildfires fills the city
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warned that an air quality health warning is in effect and shared a map showing where in the state wildfire smoke is most dangerous.
South Central New York’s Rural Health Network shared a post on Twitter informing residents that cloth masks would not protect them from wildfire smoke and that a “well-fitting” N95 was appropriate.
Air quality is expected to deteriorate further on Wednesday.
New York Metro Weather meteorologist John Homenuk told the New York Daily News that the smoke could persist for days and that the risk was likely even higher Wednesday afternoon.
“Right now, models are pointing to another burst of near-surface smoke during the afternoon hours on Wednesday, and then increased smoke development for the rest of the week and even into parts of the weekend,” he said.
“It’s no secret that New York is facing exceptional air quality conditions right now,” Basil Seggos, commissioner for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said during a news conference on Tuesday, Newsbreak reported.
“Most New Yorkers, all New Yorkers, saw the conditions out in the field today — the skies are hazy, visibility is terrible, and you can smell the smoke in the air.”
A New Yorker wears a mask to avoid inhaling smoke from Canadian wildfires
A general view of hazy conditions resulting from Canadian wildfires as ground crew prepare the field ahead of Tuesday’s first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium
The sun can be seen behind the Empire State Building, One Vanderbilt and the Chrysler Building in New York City on Tuesday
The haze seen from 51 Astor Place New York City is on “red alert” for unhealthy air quality as smoke from Canada’s wildfires that spilled across the Northeast reached dangerous levels on Tuesday
Meteorologists suspected the smoke could be even worse over New York City on Wednesday
Meteorologist John Homenuk told the Gothamist he suggested taking some measures to protect yourself.
“Just take some precautions to make sure you don’t overexert yourself and put yourself in a situation where it could affect you negatively, knowing that the air quality is definitely worse compared to the normal situation,” he said .
The unhealthy air seeping through the city was caused by smoke from a fire in Nova Scotia last week that has impacted quality levels from New York City to Washington DC.
As of Tuesday morning, more than 160 wildfires were still burning in Quebec, including at least 114 that were considered out of control.
In Ottawa, Canada’s capital, that number is close to 250, Bloomberg reported.
Recent wildfires have led Canadian authorities to classify this as one of the worst wildfires on record.