The smoky skies hanging over New York City are courtesy of the raging wildfires in Canada, pushing the city's air quality levels to dangerous heights. According to an ABC7NY report, New York had the dubious distinction of having the ninth-worst air quality in the world this morning, while Detroit faced even poorer conditions, sitting just across the Canadian border.
As the Canadian wildfires remain unabated, they continue to burn furiously, and over 742 active fires have been reported with more than 200 considered out of control. And, blowing across the vast expanses, smoke from these fires has seeped into American skies, degrading the air from the Great Lakes to beyond. Inhaling this air, respiratory sufferers are advised to take it easy and stay indoors, especially while Air Quality Alerts remain in force.
It's not just NYC suffering under the haze; a swathe of America is under air quality alerts. The Guardian reports that around 81 million Americans from Minnesota to Maine are caught under these alerts due to the wildfires that continue to burn not only in Canada but also parts of the U.S.
Hazy conditions forced a ground stop at Boston's Logan International Airport on Monday owing to low visibility. Midwestern high-pressure is the unwelcome guest making itself at home, trapping smoke in the region and thus prolonging the air quality issues. In the midst of it all, communities are holding their breath, waiting for a reprieve that weather predictions suggest might begin as early as tomorrow.
In Canada, the situation is gradually improving in some cities, such as Montreal and Toronto, which have escaped the top 20 rankings for worst air quality. Still, the fires burn fiercely, with statistics from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre showing a staggering 747 active wildfires, the bulk of which are spiraling out of control, with significant numbers in Manitoba, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories.
Back in the United States, California is wrestling with its own inferno. The Gifford fire, reported by The Guardian, has already scorched over 70,000 acres and is threatening homes, with only a small fraction contained.
