New York's air turns yellow, most polluted in the world due to Canadian wildfires

More than 100 million people in the US are living in areas with alarming air quality due to smoke from wildfires in Canada, according to AFP citing an announcement by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 7.

The area affected is mainly the northeastern United States and the warning level is set from "code Orange" (hazardous to at-risk groups) to more severe.

Forest fire in Fort Nelson, British Columbia province, Canada on June 3

The EPA blames wildfires in Canada as the primary cause, although local emissions and weather may also have played a role. Many areas are in “Code Red” status, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) above 151, making it unhealthy for all residents.

Canada is in the midst of wildfire season, with Quebec the worst affected province. According to Reuters, fires have burned 3.8 million hectares and forced 120,000 people to evacuate.

Canadian wildfire smoke threatens northeastern US air

Most recently, on June 7, US President Joe Biden called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to offer additional support. Previously, the US deployed more than 600 firefighters and support personnel to Canada to help fight the wildfires.

The smoke has caused many schools on the US East Coast to cancel outdoor activities, affected aviation and advised millions of people to stay indoors.

Forest fire in Quebec on June 5

New York City was recorded as having the most polluted air of any major city in the world on the afternoon of June 7, when the AQI hit 342, double the level typically seen in polluted cities like Dubai (UAE) and New Delhi (India). New York Governor Kathy Hochul described it as an urgent crisis as the AQI in many parts of the state was eight times higher than normal.

AccuWeather says this is the worst wildfire smoke in the Northeast in more than 20 years. The poor air quality is expected to persist through the weekend, and a developing storm system is expected to blow the smoke westward across the Great Lakes and southward through the Ohio Valley and into the mid-Atlantic region.

Below are images of pollution in New York caused by smoke from wildfires:

New York sky turns yellow due to smoke from wildfires

Chrysler Building in New York on June 7

A person wears a mask to protect against smog at a subway station in New York

Two people wearing face masks wait for a train in New York on June 7.

Vehicles move on the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge in New York on June 7.

A person wearing a face mask at Gantry Plaza park in New York on June 7.

People wearing masks in Manhattan, New York

Crowds in Times Square

A person in Long Island City, New York wears an air-filtering mask.

New Yorkers commute to work amid air pollution

Statue of Liberty shrouded in smog

View of Manhattan

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