How long will the wildfire smoke last and when will it clear?

Northeast US Fighting heavy smoke from 400 degrees Forest fire rage Canada More than 6 million acres were burned and mass evacuations occurred.

In at least six states, including major cities such as New York, Toronto, Ottawa, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and much of Canada, the smoke darkened the skies and made it difficult to breathe.

In areas with “unhealthy” levels of air pollution, public health officials have advised people to stay indoors and wear masks when outdoors.

Live: New York’s Central Park shrouded in fog by Canadian wildfires

Vulnerable people, including children, the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease, should especially heed the warning.

And it’s not over yet: Canadian officials warn this could be the worst in the country record wildfire season.

Which states and cities are affected by the smoke?

at least 20 US states Air quality warnings have been issued in some places and are having an impact Estimated 115 million.

The hardest-hit locations included major cities such as New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Detroit, Harrisburg and New Haven.

As of 10 a.m. local time on Thursday (June 8), New York City’s Air Quality Index (AQI), which officials use to measure air pollution, was around 200, ranging from “dangerous” to “unhealthy.” fell to a bad state.

New York was ranked number one for the worst air quality in the world on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 7. At some point, the AQI exceeded 350 on a 0-500 scale, reaching the “dangerous” level.

In a show of how extreme the situation is, New Delhi, a city where people live under the threat of severe air pollution for most of the year, came in second in the AQI 190.

The situation improved on Thursday, but restrictions on outdoor activities were still recommended for all, especially those in vulnerable situations.

of Flight to Federal Aviation Administration delayed Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New Jersey are closed due to smoke conditions.

Which direction is the smoke going?

Thick smoke continued to roll south from Canada toward the East Coast on Thursday morning, with the worst AQI moving from New York City toward Philadelphia and Washington, DC.

A “sustained” low pressure system developed northward in the northeastern state near Maine, combined with wildfires that pulled “huge amounts of smoke” into the northeast, mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley, it said. National Weather Service.

Smoke spread as far as Carolina and an aviation alert was issued.

Unhealthy levels of air pollution are expected to continue in New York through Thursday, with an air quality warning in effect until midnight Saturday.

The smoky conditions are expected to start clearing over the weekend as winds move further northwest.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned at a news conference Wednesday afternoon that the smoke cloud was moving west.

“We expect them to head west over the next few days,” she said. Said.

The fire has been burning for weeks. why are you smoking now

Wildfires in Quebec erupted over the weekend, while Nova Scotia on the Atlantic coast also caught fire last month.

A storm system off Canada’s east coast is pushing smoke south over the United States. This weather pattern is expected to continue at least through the weekend.

The National Weather Service said wildfires in Canada are still “large, uncontrolled, and active, but likely to continue to produce smoke.”

“So at least for the next week or two, a lot will depend on the direction of the wind and where the smoke spreads,” the official added.

The weather will be pretty much the same this weekend. Northerly winds from the fires in Quebec could push smoke toward parts of the east coast as low pressure remains stagnant near Maine and Primorye, Canada, the NWS said.

This article is being updated