New York City, Delaware, And Pennsylvania Hit By Historic Levels Of Smog Due To Canadian Wildfires

The New York Post reports that air quality in New York City has reached worse levels than after the Sept. 11 attacks as of late Wednesday afternoon.

At 10 p.m. Tuesday (June 6), pollution in parts of the city had reached a “very unhealthy” level.

By Wednesday, the air quality in the five boroughs was the worst of any major city in the world, per IQair.

Monday afternoon vs. Wednesday afternoon in NYC as Canadian wildfire smoke chokes the city.https://t.co/tRGSasZ8gi

📷 EarthCam pic.twitter.com/PZuRFEFNqP

— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 7, 2023

The Big Apple’s air quality index – which measures pollution levels ranging from 0 to 500 – was a whopping 353 AQI on Wednesday afternoon.

Anything over 301 is considered hazardous,

NYC remained on par with Toronto in Canada, where the wildfires are ravaging portions of the country.

But the eastern fires, which lie closer to the U.S., are doing the most damage stateside, according to maps provided by the Fire Information for Resource Management System U.S. / Canada.

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While New York City remains hidden under a sepia-tone fog,  Pennsylvania reported just as dire smog conditions.

Several areas across the two states are among the highest AQI locations as of Wednesday afternoon, according to AirNow.

Those areas include Scranton, Wilkes-Barres, and Susquehanna Valley in Pennsylvania and Kent County, Sussex County.

❗ Today is a Code Red Air Quality Action Day across Pennsylvania. Smoke from Canadian wildfires is contributing to high levels of fine particulate matter in the air. pic.twitter.com/8WrgdjIk5l

— PA Department of Environmental Protection (@PennsylvaniaDEP) June 7, 2023

The Lehigh Valley, Berks County, Philadelphia, and other areas of Pennsylvania were also hit hard by pollution levels caused by Canadian wildfires.

Local wildfires are also impacting parts of Pennsylvania.

Wednesday is now a “Code Red” day for air quality across the Philadelphia region.

Delaware has similarly issued a “Code Red” air quality alert. According to CBS News, the state anticipates Thursday will also be an air quality action day.

Delaware Online reports that locals noticed the smell of burning rubber on Wednesday due to pollution caused by Canadian wildfires.

WATCH LIVE: Our cameras across the Delaware Valley are taking in live pictures of the blanket of smoke and haze, from the Jersey Shore to the Pocono Mountains and all points in between. https://t.co/wvkEdND7qw

— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) June 7, 2023

As of 10 a.m., Wednesday, the air quality index (AQI) throughout most of Delaware was above 200.

Anything between 201 and 300 is considered “very unhealthy.”

This means the risk of health effects increases for everyone, not just those with health problems.

Wind trajectories that have brought the smoke mentioned above and smog will likely continue in the New York City area for the next several days, according to the National Weather Service.

The polluted, smoky air will eventually go westward in the coming days, per AccuWeather.

“On Thursday and Friday, the worst smoke and related air quality is expected to shift west across the Great Lakes and parts of Ohio Valley and interior Northeast including the cities of Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit,” said AccuWeather director of forecasting operations Dan DePodwin.

Smoke from Canadian wildfires is blanketing one third of the United States. (Images: NOAA) pic.twitter.com/GNy0vlT827

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) June 7, 2023

All told, smoke caused by Canadian wildfires is expected to blanket upwards of one-third of the United States, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Meanwhile, people are being told to remain inside as much as possible.