Smoke continues over East Coast, but air quality could improve late Friday
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Poor air quality will remain into Friday in New York, Washington and other major cities in the Northeast, Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, but the smoke-filled skies should begin to subside by the evening.
Smoke blanketed much of the Eastern United States for a second straight day Thursday, as people faced unhealthy air caused by Canada’s wildfires, which are somewhat easing. The hazardous air pollution caused the cancellation of professional sports games and outdoor events at schools. In a statement, President Biden called the effects of the smoke “another stark reminder of the impacts of climate change” and said he directed the National Interagency Fire Center to respond to Canadian requests for additional firefighting support.
Here’s what to know
- After the worst day of smoke pollution in recent U.S. history, some New Yorkers donned masks, while in D.C., authorities warned against outdoor activities.
- The smoke-filled skies prompted calls for tackling climate change as experts warned of more extreme weather events. The world needs to urgently reduce wildfire risk and make peace with nature, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to address the impact of the fires that have upended lives.
- People should stay indoors, limiting exposure to the smoke, experts said. Be aware of your local air quality and wear masks that can filter out tiny particles, they added. If people do go outside, they should wear high-quality masks — such as an N95 or KN95.
8:28 PM: On day of nuptials, couple worries about the smoke
NEW YORK — The bride-to-be, Kamilla Kaplan, woke up in Brooklyn on Thursday with one big worry: the smoke.
Kaplan, 25, who married her husband, Alex, later Thursday at Brooklyn’s City Hall, said she was worried her wedding photos would be shrouded in orange skies, but felt better when she saw somewhat clearer conditions.
“I was really frustrated,” she said. “The whole point was to do it in the summer so we didn’t have to worry about the weather, and this smoke [came] out of nowhere.”
Her husband still worries that guests may not want to come to their reception Saturday, but the newlyweds aren’t changing their plans.
“We’re not going to change,” he said. “We’re from New York; we’re strong.”
© Pranshu Verma/Pranshu Verma / The Washington Post
Kamilla Kaplan, 25, stands with her husband Alex, 31, at Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York after getting married on Thursday.
By: Pranshu Verma
8:00 PM: How to keep pets safe from wildfire smoke hazards
As wildfire smoke from Canada drives air pollution to record-high levels, prompting air quality warnings and cancellations of outdoor events, humans aren’t the only creatures vulnerable to health hazards.
Veterinarians and animal health experts say for pet owners, the simplest things to remember during an air quality crisis is that if you have to go indoors, your animals probably do, too.
“Just like people, animals that are very young or elderly, or have existing respiratory issues, those are the most vulnerable,” said veterinarian Lisa Lippman, who directs virtual medicine for Bond Vet, a New York-based company that operates clinics across the northeast.
By: Kim Bellware
7:26 PM: Why wildfire smoke turns the sky orange, according to science
© Seth Wenig/AP
File – Workmen tend to the George Washington Bridge, as seen from Fort Lee, N.J., as haze from wildfires in Canada settles over the area on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The haze from the wildfires is taking its toll on outdoor workers along the Eastern U.S. who carried on with their jobs even as dystopian orange skies forced the cancelation of sports events, school field trips and Broadway plays. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
As Canadian wildfires poured smoke plumes over the U.S. this week, East Coasters found themselves captivated and concerned by the unnatural orange hue that took over the skies.
“Everything was completely orange. I’ve never seen anything like it before,” said Kimberly Saltz of New York City. She said she remembers her first thought when she looked out her window Wednesday: “This looks like Mars!”
Looking across the East River, Saltz couldn’t make out the contours of Brooklyn, and what she could see was bathed in an orange glow.
The sky gets its color from the type and amount of tiny particles in the air, as well as the specific wavelengths of light they obstruct, experts said. This phenomenon, known as the Rayleigh scattering, is responsible for the orange sky, according to climate scientist Peter Kalmus.
By: Maham Javaid
7:06 PM: You can expect more extreme weather events, scientists say. When? That’s tricky.
Scientific evidence already suggests that the effects of the Canada wildfires seen in eastern parts of the United States could happen again in the near future, Chris Field, director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, told The Washington Post.
“There’s a large and growing body of evidence indicating that a warming climate produces more extremes — especially extremes of high temperature and drought,” Field said. “These are exactly the conditions that set the stage for really damaging wildfires.”
The area annually burned in wildfires in the western part of the country has more than doubled in the past 20 years, he said.
But when the next conflagration will flare up and affect eastern United States is the hard part to answer when speaking about climate change, Jeff Schlegelmilch, director of Columbia University’s Climate School’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, told The Post.
“Looking at historical data can give us clues into the types of extreme events we might see, but in terms of the future and severity, the future is more uncertain,” Schlegelmilch said.
“We can’t predict with certainty when the next major wildfire will be, but we’ll need to prepare more for these events than we’ve had in the past,” he said. The effects of a warmer globe have already been seen in the western part of the country.
Schlegelmilch said he has come to terms with the fact that this is the new normal. “It’s not something that I worry about. It’s something that I plan for as a certainty.”
By: Andrea Salcedo
6:41 PM: Analysis from Chris Mooney, Reporter covering climate change, energy and the environment.
The worry was palpable this week: with D.C. under major air quality warnings due to massive wildfires in Canada, is it okay for kids to go to school? Should everyone be wearing masks?
My answer: Turn to HEPA-grade air purifiers, if you can. On Wednesday, they were still easy to get with one day delivery, something I found both revealing and also a little worrying — though by Thursday it was harder to get some that quickly.
Read more about five things a climate reporter wants you to know about making indoor air safer
6:22 PM: Analysis from Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Reporter covering national breaking news
Schools in Philadelphia will shift to remote learning Friday, mirroring steps officials took in New York City. Employees, though, are expected to report to work, the district said in a news release.
In the D.C. region, school districts in Virginia and Maryland canceled outdoor recess, physical education, team sports and other activities.
6:01 PM: How long will the smoke last? Here’s the latest forecast.
Smoke forecast for 7 a.m. Friday from the HRRR model. (PivotalWeather.com)
For at least the next 12 to 24 hours, New York and other major cities in the Northeast, Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic will continue to experience smoke-filled skies. Air quality alerts are in effect into Friday in large parts of this region, but after that, the smoke should begin to subside.
Here are some things to know:
- Smoke, sometimes thick, should continue to affect Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia through at least Friday morning, possibly extending into the afternoon.
- A second plume of smoke will affect western New York state, western Pennsylvania, northern Ohio and eastern Michigan on Thursday night, gradually spilling into the rest of Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia and Maryland by Friday morning.
- On Friday, smoke will linger longest in the eastern Mid-Atlantic.
- On Saturday, the smoke should be more diffuse, but some may affect New York state and New England.
- By Sunday, the smoke situation should be much improved. However, some smoke could affect Maine, which has largely escaped it so far.
By: Jason Samenow and Matthew Cappucci
5:56 PM: Smoke continues to fill Washington skies
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Smoky skies persisted for a second day over Washington. A gray haze coated the U.S. Capitol and national monuments Thursday as tourists walked the Mall and visited downtown museums.
Street vendors, construction workers, taxi drivers and maintenance crews all continued their work outside — some with masks and some without — as the nation’s capital carried on through unusual conditions.
By: Jon Gerberg and Whitney Shefte
5:40 PM: Despite haze, climate advocates protest Mountain Valley Pipeline outside White House
Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the White House on Thursday and urged President Biden to oppose the Mountain Valley Pipeline and to declare a climate emergency. As they converged, many wore masks to protect themselves from the unprecedented air pollution in the region.
After all, they said they couldn’t risk not showing up — the stakes were too high.
The proposed 303-mile pipeline would carry natural gas across West Virginia and Virginia. Measures to help fast-track its approval were included in the recent legislation signed by Biden to suspend the debt ceiling through 2024 — over the objections of climate activists.
How a fossil fuel pipeline helped grease the debt ceiling deal
Protesters pointed to the cloud of smoke surrounding them as an example of how the threat of climate change to humanity knows no borders. Extreme weather events, like wildfires, and other disasters will only become more common if political leaders do not act with urgency, they said.
One protester held a sign with an arrow pointing to the sky and the message: “This is what climate change looks like!”
Others read: “Burn the patriarchy not the planet” and “Stop adding fuel to this fire!”
Some protesters sat in rocking chairs, emphasizing the multigeneration fight to demand extreme actions to curb catastrophic warming of the planet.
“We have a right to breathe clean air,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) told the cheering crowd.
By: Ellie Silverman
5:20 PM: How surging smoke from Canada is tied to extreme heat wave in Puerto Rico
© WeatherBell.com
A weather model shows the wavy jet stream, associated areas of low and high pressure, and overall blocked weather pattern responsible for both the steady southward flow of wildfire smoke from Canada into the eastern United States and the prolonged, historic heat wave across Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
The U.S. East Coast remains socked in by smoke from Canadian wildfires while a punishing and historic heat wave has roasted Puerto Rico and the Caribbean since the weekend. It turns out that the two are connected.
A wavy jet stream and what’s known as a blocking pattern — essentially a traffic jam in the sky — have led to the persistence of both the smoke surging south from Canada and intense heat in Puerto Rico and nearby islands.
A southward dip in the jet stream and associated area of low pressure over the eastern United States are steering the smoke south from Canada. Meanwhile, a northward bulge in the jet stream over the tropical Atlantic Ocean has allowed a scorching heat dome spawned by a sprawling area of high pressure to linger for days near Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
While the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic have endured days of dangerous air quality because of the smoke, Puerto Rico has seen its heat index reach as high as 125 degrees, with a number of record-warm maximum and minimum temperatures across the Caribbean. El Niño and historically warm waters in the Atlantic Ocean are also believed to be contributing to the excessive heat, which is expected to last into the weekend.
Wavy jet streams that get stuck can produce extreme summer heat waves and winter cold waves in the United States and Europe. Whether such blocking patterns are linked to climate change has been a matter of debate.
By: Dan Stillman
5:00 PM: How climate change skeptics are responding to the Canada wildfires
© Hannah Beier/Bloomberg News
Buildings in the Philadelphia skyline shrouded in smoke from Canada wildfires in Camden, New Jersey, US, on Thursday, June 8, 2023. The US Northeast will continue to breathe in choking smoke from fires across eastern Canada for the next few days, raising health alarms across impacted areas. Photographer: Hannah Beier/Bloomberg
As smoke from the wildfires in Canada continues to waft into the United States, some climate change skeptics are pushing back on claims that climate change contributed to the blazes, or that breathing smoke particulates is harmful.
Fox News contributor Steve Milloy went on air and claimed that particulate matter is “innocuous” to human health.
“The reality is that there’s no health risk. … This doesn’t kill anybody, this doesn’t make anybody cough, this is not a health event. This has got nothing to do with climate,” he told viewers Wednesday evening. The segment included a Fox News crawl that read: “Climate cult uses Canadian fire to co-opt freedom.”
Milloy, a former corporate lobbyist, also said the smoke hovering over cities in Canada and the United States would be considered “clean air” in other countries.
“We have this kind of air in India and China all the time, no public health emergency,” Milloy said.
Health authorities disagree. The World Health Organization states that indoor and outdoor air pollution is associated with 7 million premature deaths annually. Research published by the Lancet Planetary Health journal also found that air pollution continues to be the world’s largest environmental health threat and accounted for 6.7 million premature deaths in 2019.
Christopher Tremoglie, a commentator for the Washington Examiner, also took issue with claims by President Biden and others that climate change contributed to the fires in Canada.
“Wildfires had existed long before any left-wing environmentalist started making doomsday prognostications about the planet’s sustainability due to the climate,” wrote Tremoglie, a former intern for the State Department, in an article published Thursday.
While many scientists and forestry experts say it is too early to directly attribute the Canadian fires to climate change, it is well established that climate change is intensifying the overall threat.
“Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildland fires and creating longer fire seasons in Canada,” Michael Norton, a Canadian Forest Service official, told reporters earlier this week.
By: Amudalat Ajasa
4:40 PM: How parents can protect children amid hazardous air quality, wildfire smoke
An amber haze of smoke from Canadian wildfires has blanketed the Northeast United States in recent days, with hazardous air alerts issued all along the East Coast. The unprecedented conditions have left many families trying to figure out how to protect their kids amid an air quality crisis: How much time outside is okay? How dangerous is wildfire smoke for children? What if a child has asthma?
We spoke to Lisa Patel, a pediatrician and executive director of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, about what parents should know.
By: Caitlin Gibson
4:20 PM: What’s actually in all that smoke?
Billowing clouds of Canadian wildfire smoke have transformed blue skies into apocalyptic orange scenes across the eastern United States.
But the fuzzy skylines are more than just a bleak sight. The haze is a noxious mixture of particles and gases that can spread across long distances, potentially harming anything with a heartbeat.
Many of the microscopic particles sneak into our lungs and impair breathing. Others irritate our skin, throat and eyes. Some chemicals dissipate quickly, while others can linger for months in our atmosphere. Under severe circumstances, the best defense is to stay inside or wear a mask when outside — and even then, experts say, you could be breathing contaminated air.
“Most wildfires and wildland fires put out hundreds of chemicals,” said Rebecca Hornbrook, an atmospheric scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. “It’s a very complex mixture of chemicals that are emitted.”
By: Kasha Patel and Allyson Chiu
4:00 PM: World’s ‘carbon budget’ for key climate goal was halved in just three years
As wildfire smoke pours into the East Coast, scientists are giving yet another harsh warning on climate change. On Thursday, scientists announced that the world’s remaining “carbon budget” for reaching the 1.5 degrees Celsius target has halved in just three years.
In early 2020, scientists at the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimated that the world could burn only 500 billion more tons of carbon dioxide and still have a decent chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), a threshold aimed at averting disastrous warming. This is known as the “carbon budget.” (For reference, the world is predicted to burn about 40 billion tons of CO2 this year.)
But now, researchers estimate in a new paper published Thursday that the number has been cut in half — thanks to three years of high emissions and new scientific understanding of how particles of air pollution, known as aerosols, will affect the climate.
By: Shannon Osaka
3:53 PM: Fire threats easing in eastern Canada, but extreme risk continues elsewhere
Fire risk in Canada as of June 8.
Historic smoke production in Canada is easing somewhat, with raging flames taming as a result of wetter conditions backing into the eastern part of the country.
Cooler and damper air has overtaken much of the region from Quebec to Nova Scotia, areas dealing with the large fires of late. Some fires that were raging — like Nova Scotia’s largest on record southwest of Halifax — are now largely extinguished.
Despite some good news, Canada’s current fire threat ranges from high to extreme across the western half of Quebec, most of Ontario, and then again in the west across British Columbia, Alberta, and immediate surroundings.
These areas are all at much higher risk than typical in June.
On the other side of the continent, fires that started more than a month ago have been rekindled in British Columbia and Alberta as warm air and gusty winds return.
With high pressure migrating westward in coming days, temperatures are expected to rise across central and western Canada. Sunny skies and dry conditions should be the rule through at least next week in these regions, which means a continued major risk of fire there.
It would appear the best looming odds for calmer fire weather conditions — and rain — are from the Great Lakes region toward Atlantic Canada. Because the pattern doesn’t suggest more significant rain potential until at least later next week, this is a low confidence outlook.
Beyond, drier-than-average conditions are expected to prevail in much of the country over the next several weeks. Perhaps with some exceptions as mentioned above.
“Morning models are trending to bringing the heat dome back in late June and possibly extending into July,” wrote long-range forecast expert Judah Cohen.
The government of Canada expects challenging fire threats to remain elevated through the summer.
By: Ian Livingston
3:45 PM: ‘If we’re not outside, then we don’t make money’
NEW YORK — For Mamadu Barrie, a pedicab biker in Central Park, the air has taken a physical and financial toll.
On Wednesday, as the skies turned orange and city officials warned people to stay inside, Barrie came out to do his job and ferry customers around the park, trying to make cash.
“If we’re not outside, then we don’t make money,” he said.
But there were hardly any tourists around the park willing to pay for his tour, and the one ride he did get was cut short early because Barrie and the guest couldn’t bear the smoky smell. Barrie tried staying around the park for a few more hours, but as his throat got dry and customers remained largely elusive, he had to make his way back home to Brooklyn, losing out on a day’s pay and feeling exhausted.
On Thursday, he’s back at his outpost at Central Park, and though the haze is less severe, there’s still a shortage of tourists and business is slow. To lure customers, he’s lowering his rates. “It’s very bad,” he said. “We’re making less than normal.”
By: Pranshu Verma
3:44 PM: As D.C. expands shelter hours, homeless advocates call for more help
Some shelters in D.C. are now open at all hours for people who are experiencing homelessness and are looking for protection from the poor air quality, according to D.C. Council member Robert C. White Jr. (D-At Large). Some of those shelters normally operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. but are now available around-the-clock.
During the day, people can go to any public library in the city for shelter, among other places around the District.
“Please share widely to get this resource out to all who may need it,” White wrote in a post on Twitter that includes a list of open shelters and a number to call to request transportation to them.
In New York, advocates said the city should put in place protocols as it does in extreme heat in the summer or extreme cold in the winter to make sure unhoused people stay safe and have places to go. They said many of the people served by their organizations have underlying health problems, including asthma, which presents a high risk.
“It’s tough to hear when Mayor [Eric] Adams says to get inside when folks we’re serving can’t get inside,” said Juan De La Cruz, director of emergency relief services at the Coalition for the Homeless, which serves unhoused people in New York City. “There was nothing official offered.”
By: Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff
3:30 PM: ‘Like being next to a barbecue’: Security guard describes the smoky workday
NEW YORK — As a security guard for an office building in Manhattan’s Columbus Circle, Joel Polanzo is used to standing outside for his job and breathing in bad air.
But nothing in Polanzo’s career compares with what he’s had to breathe in the past two days, he said in an interview.
“It’s been terrible,” he said.
On Wednesday, Polanzo, 23, stood outside without a mask and he felt pressure in his chest, but he learned his lesson and wore a mask today.
The smoky smell in the air, he said, reminded him somewhat of his native Dominican Republic after it rains, but even stronger. “It’s like being next to a barbecue and smoking all the carbon that’s coming out,” he said.
But by virtue of his job’s outdoor demands, he’s already gotten used to the air, Polanzo said.
“I’m used to the scent right now,” he said. “Which shouldn’t be normal.”
By: Pranshu Verma
3:15 PM: Setting smoke pollution aside, air quality is much better than it used to be
© Environmental Protection Agency/Environmental Protection Agency
(Environmental Protection Agency)
Despite the horrifying scenes of this week’s wildfire smoke blanketing the skylines of major U.S. cities, air quality has actually shown steady improvement during the past few decades, according to a recent Environmental Protection Agency report on air quality trends through 2022.
The combined emission of six common pollutants decreased by 78 percent from 1970 to 2022, the report said. PM2.5, the main pollutant in the current event, has dropped by 42 percent. Other declines include:
- Carbon monoxide and lead down by more than 80 percent
- Nitrogen dioxide down by 60 percent
- Ozone down by 22 percent
- PM10 down by 34 percent
- Sulfur dioxide down by 90 percent
Along with the cleaner air has come a steady drop in the number of days the U.S. Air Quality Index has reached the unhealthy range (Code Orange, Red, Purple or Maroon), from 2,076 days among 35 major U.S. cities in 2000 to 597 days in 2022.
© Environmental Protection Agency/Environmental Protection Agency
(Environmental Protection Agency)
Sources of air pollution include electric utilities, industrial boiler systems, metal smelters, petroleum refineries, cement kilns, dry cleaners, highway vehicles, recreational and construction equipment, marine vessels, aircraft and trains.
The EPA credits the Clean Air Act, a federal law that regulates air emissions, with cutting air pollution through stricter emission standards.
The report, however, does not address trends in smoke pollution from wildfires. All of the top 10 days for smoke pollution — in a record dating to 2006 — have occurred since 2020.
By: Dan Stillman
3:00 PM: Smoky skies amid a planned vacation
© Mike Segar/Reuters
Haze and smoke caused by wildfires in Canada linger over the skyline of Midtown Manhattan on Thursday.
NEW YORK — For DeeDee DeZeeuw, the smoky air has been an unwelcome addition to her vacation to New York City.
“It kinda sucks,” she said. “But it’s better today.”
DeZeeuw, 68, is accompanying her 17-year-old grandson on his first trip to New York City, and the poor air conditions resulted in their helicopter tour of the city being canceled on Wednesday.
With the better air Thursday, they are fitting in outside activities while they can. Her grandson is riding a bike around Central Park while she reads Atul Gawande’s “Being Mortal” on a bench. They plan to visit Chinatown and Little Italy later in the afternoon.
But DeZeeuw remains worried. She is aware that flights have been canceled because of the smoke and hopes her flight from LaGuardia Airport to Dallas this weekend doesn’t suffer the same fate.
“I don’t want to get stuck in New York City,” she said. “I love it here, but I’d be broke if I had to stay.”
By: Pranshu Verma
2:57 PM: Analysis from Michael J. Coren, Climate Advice Columnist
When I ask people about the moment climate change became real for them, the answer, often, is: a natural disaster.
For me, it was Sept. 9, 2020, when I woke up to a day without dawn.
It’s one thing to live for decades with the scientific understanding of climate change. It’s another to look up at the sky at noon, as I did, and see only black smoke stretching across the horizon.
2:45 PM: Photos: Wildfire haze blankets D.C. for a second day
© Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post
The Washington Monument is obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires as groups gather near the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool on Thursday.
Washington Post photographers are documenting the D.C. metro area as wildfire smoke continues to cover swaths of the United States.
Major cities in the Northeast, Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic are expected to continue to experience smoke-filled skies for at least the next day or two.
© Matt McClain/The Washington Post
Jun 8 | Arlington, Va. A visitor is reflected as they look out onto hazy skies from the View of DC observation deck.
© Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post
The Pentagon, made hazy by wildfire smoke, as seen from the air on Thursday in Arlington.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires was causing unprecedented air pollution in the Washington region Thursday, forcing Major League Baseball to postpone a Washington Nationals game, National Zoo officials to shutter exhibits and local authorities to warn people and pets to stay indoors or face health risks on June 8, 2023.
2:22 PM: In photos: Smoke from Canada covers Washington landmarks with haze
© Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
June 7 | Washington The sun sets behind the Washington Monument as smoke from Canadian wildfires casts a haze over the National Mall.
The haze from the wildfires in Canada gave an outlandish look to familiar sights in Washington and surrounding areas.
© Tom Brenner/For the Washington Post
A commercial airplane takes off over the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires were visible throughout the region Wednesday.
© Tom Brenner for The Washington Post/For the Washington Post
Visitors rest on a bench at the Washington Monument on Wednesday.
By: Jintak Han
2:17 PM: In New York, many unmask as conditions begin improving
NEW YORK — The haze blanketing Manhattan appears to be lifting and temporarily making way for slightly sunnier skies on Thursday afternoon, as people in New York adjust to breathing in air that remains some of the worst in the world.
Several New Yorkers remain masked as they head outside for lunch in Midtown, but many are running, grabbing lunch at food carts and strolling around the city without one.
Joel Polanzo, a security officer for an office in Columbus Circle, said he’s happy the air is somewhat better than yesterday but still feels it’s worse than he’s ever seen.
Polanzo, 23, said he felt pressure in his chest from standing outside without a mask for his job on Wednesday, but today, he learned his lesson and is wearing one.
That still doesn’t change the smell, he said. “It’s nasty still,” Polanzo added. “It’s like being next to a barbecue and smoking all the carbon that’s coming out.”
By: Pranshu Verma
2:15 PM: Analysis from Justine McDaniel, General Assignment reporter
New York City Public Schools will operate remotely on Friday, the district announced. Only some schools were scheduled to be in session; those that are will provide virtual instruction for students. The rest have a previously scheduled clerical day, and staff will work remotely.
The district also worked remotely Thursday, which was a scheduled day off for students.
2:00 PM: Climate disasters make it harder to insure your home. Here’s what to know.
© Stuart W. Palley for The Washington Post
Firefighters work to keep heat from a burning home from igniting the Dollar General store in Greenville, Calif., on Aug 4, 2021.
Homeowners are bracing for hurricane and fire seasons, but with insurance premiums rising and carriers pulling back coverage in riskier states, more and more residents don’t know whether they can afford to insure their homes.
State Farm, following Allstate’s quiet move last year, recently announced that it will not take on new policies in California because of fire risks. In Colorado, most insurers have either pulled back on coverage or canceled policies, and residents are paying about 50 percent more in premiums. People in Louisiana and Florida also are struggling to afford insurance policies, with more carriers leaving the state or going insolvent, and some under scrutiny for altering damage estimates to pad profits, the focus of a new Florida law.
Across the United States, it is becoming harder and more expensive for people to protect their livelihoods. There are a multitude of reasons, but it is clear that climate change is making catastrophes worse, and insurance companies largely have the power to choose how they react to them.
However, there are resources to help homeowners confront both the risks and the potential financial hardships.
By: Brianna Sacks
1:54 PM: Biden: Fires are ‘another stark reminder’ of climate change
President Biden said the Canadian wildfire season, positioned to be the worst in that country’s history, will have “huge impacts” in the United States, calling the “devastating” wildfires and their smoke “another stark reminder of the impacts of climate change” in a Thursday afternoon statement.
The United States is monitoring the smoke’s effect on air travel, and Biden said he had asked Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to update him on efforts to “proactively manage the air traffic implications.” Biden also said he had directed the National Interagency Fire Center to “respond promptly” to any requests from Canada for more U.S. firefighters or equipment.
More than 100 million Americans live in the areas where Air Quality Index alerts are in effect because of the smoke, according to the White House.
In a briefing Thurday, Biden reiterated the remarks from his statement and urged people to monitor guidance from local and state officials.
By: Justine McDaniel
1:51 PM: What set off the Quebec wildfires? Mainly lightning.
Smokes plumes seen over Quebec on June 3 as detected by NASA’s Aqua satellite following a siege of lightning on June 1. (NASA)
Wildfires can be sparked in many ways — be it lightning, arson, unintentional ignition caused by vehicles or negligence. Lightning was the probable main cause of the fires in Quebec that have caused smoke to spill into the northeast United States.
“Overwhelming evidence points to a lightning outbreak on June 1st as the primary ignition source,” tweeted Anthony Farnell, chief meteorologist at Global News Canada.
The video below, from Instant Weather Ontario, shows the massive amount of lightning detected by a weather satellite on June 1 and includes a helpful narration:
During the two days after the lightning onslaught, smoke plumes began to emerge on weather satellite imagery in the same areas as the lightning, as shown in the image above. They were boosted by dry air and gusty winds in the wake of a storm system.
Quebec has already seen about 400,000 hectares (988,000 acres) burn from this fire outbreak. Over the previous 10 years, for Jan. 1. through the first week of June, the yearly average was closer to 2,000 hectares (4,940 acres), according to data from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center.
The leap in fire activity between May 31 and June 2 is shown in the maps below:
Wildfire locations on May 31 and June 2.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported that fires of this magnitude in Quebec happen every couple of centuries on average, but the last time something similar occurred was just over 30 years ago, in 1991.
The risk of new fire ignition has lowered significantly from a week ago because of rain and cooler weather.
By: Ian Livingston
1:40 PM: Smoke blanketing New York City evokes memories of 1966 ‘killer smog’
© John Duricka/AP; Yuki Iwamura/AP
Left: New York is covered in smog, seen from the roof of the RCA Building at Rockefeller Center on Nov. 25, 1966. Right: The city seen from the Empire State Building observatory on Wednesday as smoke from Canadian wildfires rolled into the East Coast and Midwest.
New York City’s skyscrapers were barely visible, engulfed in air so thick “you could feel the bits of smog sticking to your face,” Bill Burke recalled.
While the hazy images bear a resemblance to Wednesday’s eerie orange skies as smoke from Canadian wildfires engulfs the city, Burke was recalling the “killer smog” of 1966, when a heavy cloud of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide enveloped New York.
That year, the toxic smog — stemming mostly from industrial residue and power plants using coal — hovered for about three days, starting on Thanksgiving, prompting a citywide alert that ordered all incinerators to close and utility companies to use natural gas. People with cardiovascular and respiratory problems were urged to stay inside during what’s now considered one of the worst air-pollution episodes and environmental disasters in modern U.S. history.
Now, nearly 57 years later, the thick haze blanketing the city is bringing back memories of the days when the Mamas & the Papas and the Beatles were all the rage, Lyndon B. Johnson was president, and concerns about pollution and other environmental problems had just begun creeping into the public’s consciousness. About four years later, Congress passed the landmark Clean Air Act, meant to reduce air pollution.
By: María Luisa Paúl
1:31 PM: Smoke pollution remains unhealthy from Virginia to southern New England
Air quality across the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada at noon Eastern time.
Code Purple air quality, signifying very unhealthy levels, continued to hover over the Washington-to-Philadelphia corridor at midday Wednesday. Meanwhile, a broader zone from western Virginia to eastern New York and into New England endured Code Red conditions, one notch down. The worst air quality numbers had diminished slightly since the morning.
While thick smoke remained stuck over much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, increasing midday winds were mixing the air enough to improve it marginally.
The Air Quality Index, which runs from 0 to 500, showed widespread values above 100 over the region at midday. When the AQI is 100 or higher, concern grows for vulnerable groups such as those with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Code Red, affecting larger populations, starts at 150, and Code Purple, affecting everyone, starts at 200.
Here is a roundup of midday values:
- York, Pa: 276
- Washington: 273
- Lancaster, Pa.: 272
- Dover, Del.: 239
- Atlantic City: 233
- Hagerstown, Md.: 208
- Philadelphia: 204
- Wilmington, Del.: 196
- Albany: 180
- Baltimore: 179
- Hartford: 174
- New York City: 189
- Scranton, Pa.: 184
- Senneterre, Quebec: 150
- Kitchener, Ontario: 146
- Detroit: 134
- Richmond: 129
- Pittsburgh: 119
- Syracuse: 111
By: Ian Livingston
12:48 PM: Smoke brings a warning: There’s no escaping climate’s threat to health
© Joe Lamberti/AFP/Getty Images
A haze covers Philadelphia City Hall on Wednesday, caused by smoke from Canada’s wildfires.
The cloud of smoke inundating the East Coast on Wednesday — fueled by more than 400 active fires burning across Canada, with more than half of them considered “out of control” — underscored how climate change’s threat to human health can transcend national boundaries.
Dozens of East Coast counties issued health warnings as air-quality measures hit their worst marks in years, or even decades, prompting many elderly Americans and schoolchildren to shelter inside.
The shroud above the Northeast prompted public health authorities to convene emergency meetings, hospitals to prepare for a possible uptick in patients and lawmakers to again call for legislation to tamp down the risks of a warming world. The acute public health threat posed by the fumes, which carry dangerous gases and fine particles that can embed in people’s lungs and bloodstream, coupled with the transformation of major cities’ skylines, punctured many Americans’ sense of invulnerability.
By: Dan Diamond, Joshua Partlow, Brady Dennis and Emmanuel Felton
12:47 PM: Wednesday was the worst day of smoke pollution in recent U.S. history
The Lower 48 states just observed their smokiest day in nearly two decades on Wednesday. It catapulted past the previous smokiest days, according to data produced by the Stanford Environmental Change and Human Outcomes Lab.
The particle pollution from the smoke blanketing the eastern half of the United States averaged 27.5 micrograms, Stanford environmental scientist Marshall Burke tweeted.
This value — based on a population average — easily surpassed the previous record of 17.5 micrograms on Sept. 13, 2020. The 2020 wildfire days on Stanford’s list were driven by a historic fire season in the west, including a number of massive blazes in California during September.
Tuesday’s value of 16.9 micrograms ranks fourth among the days in the analysis period. It seems probable that Thursday will also join the list.
By: Ian Livingston
12:43 PM: Analysis from Justine McDaniel, General Assignment reporter
A Pride event scheduled for Thursday evening on the White House South Lawn was postponed to Saturday because of the hazardous air quality, the White House said. Singer Betty Who was set to perform at the event, which the administration has billed as “the largest Pride celebration in White House history.”
12:38 PM: D.C.-area air quality hits worst levels yet; officials say stay indoors
© Matt McClain/The Washington Post
The rising sun appears orange behind a morning runner on Thursday in Arlington.
Residents of the D.C. area woke Thursday to a sickly amber haze; the Washington Nationals canceled their game; the National Zoo closed for the day; and local authorities warned people to stay indoors amid ongoing danger from the smoke of Canadian wildfires.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and D.C.’s Department of Energy and Environment issued a “Code Purple” air quality alert, indicating very unhealthy air conditions for everyone, not just those with respiratory illnesses. They said the situation was unprecedented. Code Purple is the second-worst of six color-coded levels in the air quality index (AQI).
“The D.C. region has not previously recorded a Code Purple day for fine particle pollution,” the council’s statement said. “In 2012, the region recorded two days for ozone pollution that would qualify as Code Purple by the current 2015 standards.”
The Franconia location just south of Washington was even reporting Code Maroon air quality levels Thursday morning — the worst level in the AQI, signifying “hazardous conditions.”
By: Tara Bahrampour and Washington Post Staff
12:33 PM: Vet advice for pets is same as guidance for humans: Stay indoors
© Troy Dunkley/Reuters
A person walks dogs along the Brooklyn promenade in New York on Wednesday as the Manhattan skyline is shrouded in haze and smoke that drifted south from wildfires in Canada.
For pets, animal experts and veterinarians recommend people follow the same guidance as what is being given for humans on a day with bad air quality — stay indoors as much as possible.
Jennifer Riley, a veterinarian at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center in Virginia, said Thursday that dogs should go outside to urinate and defecate and then in general have limited time outdoors in bad air quality conditions.
If pets have lung issues or other health problems, they should be kept outside as little as possible.
“If they’re young and healthy,” Riley said, “this should not affect them.”
She said her office has received a lot of calls from the public in the past few days, asking what they can do to help wildlife and birds in their yards during these bad air quality days.
Her advice is that “there really is nothing in the short term” that people can do for birds and wildlife.
But she said she’s encouraging people to take a more long-term view of climate change and do such things as being more responsible with clean energy, planting plants that are naturally found in an area, supporting efforts to stop habitat loss for animals, and not spraying toxins and pesticides on their yards.
“Do all the stuff to protect the environment,” she said, “and that’s how you solve these problems long term.”
Experts at the American Veterinary Medical Association also gave tips on how to protect pets and keep livestock safe on bad air quality days. One of their biggest tips is to keep your pet inside as much as possible.
They also suggested that owners seek a veterinarian’s attention for animals that experience such symptoms as coughing, difficulty breathing, fatigue, or loss of appetite or thirst.
By: Dana Hedgpeth
12:25 PM: New York City smoke will worsen, then begin to improve, mayor says
New York City will probably become smokier Thursday afternoon, but conditions should start improving later in the evening, city officials said at a briefing.
“Over the next few days, things will progressively continue to get better through Tuesday, when we have a front moving through that should push everything out,” said Zachary Iscol, emergency management commissioner for the city.
Until then, officials said, people should continue to stay indoors and wear an N95 mask if they have to go outside, and organizers should consider canceling outdoor events.
During the day Thursday, conditions in the city’s southern boroughs will probably be worse than in the northern parts of the city, Mayor Eric Adams (D) said.
“The large plume we saw yesterday has been pushed through the city, and we are expecting gradual improvement through the early afternoon today, but a sea breeze this afternoon could push smoke back over the city,” Adams told reporters.
On Thursday night there could be “continued improvements,” the mayor said. “The smoke models are not indicating another large plume over the city, so there’s a chance for significant improvement by tomorrow morning and throughout the day tomorrow.”
By: Justine McDaniel
11:56 AM: How long will the wildfire smoke last?
New York City experienced its worst air quality on record Wednesday afternoon as wildfire smoke poured south from Canada. For at least the next 24 to 48 hours, New York and other major cities in the Northeast, Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic will continue to have smoke-filled skies.
Air quality alerts are in effect through early Friday in large parts of this region. The smoke is expected to meaningfully subside as winds become more northwesterly into the weekend.
Thursday began with extremely poor air quality — deemed downright “hazardous” by the Environmental Protection Agency — in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the D.C. to Baltimore stretch, and parts of the Delmarva Peninsula. Code Purple begins at an Air Quality Index of 200: D.C. was at 274; Baltimore at 223; Philadelphia at 212; Wilmington, Del., at 281; and Harrisburg, Pa., at 387, down from an inconceivable 434 at 8 a.m. New York City triggered a Code Red at 188.
Visibility across the affected areas ranged from 1.5 to 3 miles in the thick smoke. High-resolution models suggest that smoke will waft east Thursday, however, diminishing in intensity through the evening hours. The Mid-Atlantic should see improvement during the afternoon. That’s around the time, however, that a new plume of smoke encroaches on New York City, meaning things will probably become bad again Thursday night.
By: Matthew Cappucci and Jason Samenow
11:54 AM: Schumer calls for U.S. to send more firefighters to Canada
© Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks to reporters after a policy luncheon Wednesday on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) called Thursday for the Biden administration to deploy twice as many U.S. Forest Service personnel to Canada as there are now.
“I am calling on the secretary of agriculture to double the number of personnel to mitigate the risk in the air for millions of Americans,” Schumer said on the floor of the Senate. “These unprecedented wildfires are a crisis for both Canada and the United States, so both nations must respond speedily and forcefully to contain the blazes.”
More than 600 U.S. firefighters and other personnel had been sent to Canada, along with firefighting equipment, as of Wednesday afternoon, spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing. After a call between President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday night, the White House said Biden had “directed his team to deploy all available federal firefighting assets that can rapidly assist” in suppressing the fires.
Schumer said Thursday that the federal government must “explore all options” to keep Americans safe and “offer any assistance” Canada needs. He cited New York City’s air quality and the “even worse” pollution in Upstate New York on Wednesday, saying his “home state looked like the scene of a scary movie.”
By: Justine McDaniel
11:51 AM: New York City experienced smoke pollution levels off the charts
How historic is this wildfire smoke event for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic? It is literally off the charts.
The chart below is truly remarkable. It shows the daily average smoke pollution levels in New York City on Tuesday and Wednesday (red dots) compared with average levels on all other days from January 2006 to December 2022.
The pollution recorded Wednesday is more than triple the average of most other days, and more than double the highest spike. The chart was tweeted by Marshall Burke, an associate professor in the department of earth system science at Stanford University.
Hourly data from Wednesday is even more striking. The chart below, tweeted by Robert Rohde, lead scientist at Berkeley Earth, shows that the pollution in New York City briefly reached the “hazardous” level of 250.5 or greater for PM2.5. (PM2.5 refers to particulate matter that is very fine, 2.5 microns or less in width.) Hazardous is the most dangerous level and is defined as a “health warning of emergency conditions.”
By: Dan Stillman
11:47 AM: Video: Smoke takes over Nats Park
Canadian wildfire smoke enveloped the field at Nationals Park in Washington on Thursday morning as air quality continued to worsen across the region.
Thursday’s 1:05 p.m. game against the Arizona Diamondbacks was postponed to June 22.
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By: Allie Caren
11:36 AM: Philadelphia is blanketed with smoke: ‘We haven’t seen anything like this’
© Matt Rourke/AP
A person cycles past the skyline in Philadelphia shrouded in haze on Thursday.
Philadelphia is experiencing its worst air quality in at least 24 years as the noxious haze from the Canadian wildfires blanketing the East Coast this week has caused “hazardous” air quality that city officials say should keep residents indoors until conditions improve.
The color-coded Air Quality Index tracked by the U.S. government is showing Philadelphia’s air quality level as maroon, the worst level kept by AirNow.gov. The Air Quality Index in Philadelphia was at 361 as of 8 a.m. Eastern on Thursday, significantly worse even than the air quality levels in other major East Coast cities hit by the smoke like New York and Washington. By 9 a.m., the air quality level was still at 325. Public officials say any area with a “hazardous” level of air quality means that “everyone should stay indoors and reduce activity levels.”
James Garrow, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, told The Washington Post that the air quality in the city is the worst it’s been since at least 1999, which is as far back as the department’s records go.
“The air is unhealthy to breathe,” he said Thursday. “The numbers that we’re seeing right now in terms of air quality are the worst in that time frame. We haven’t seen anything like this.”
By: Timothy Bella
11:28 AM: D.C. air is worse today, and these pictures prove it
The air quality wasn’t great in the D.C. area Wednesday. But it’s worse Thursday, and we’ve got the pictures to prove it.
Washingtonians are posting pictures on social media comparing Thursday morning’s sky with Wednesday’s and with a more typical morning, and the difference is pretty crazy. A thick haze dims or totally blocks the view of buildings and bridges in the distance Thursday morning. Those blue skies and puffy white clouds are what we would probably be seeing without the smoke.
Not surprisingly, visibility has been quite low, as low as one mile at Reagan National Airport, 1.25 miles at Dulles International Airport and 0.75 miles at Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport.
By: Dan Stillman
11:15 AM: Code Purple alert issued for D.C. as smoke pollution sets records
Air quality was mainly Code Purple this morning in and around D.C.
The D.C. region awoke to a historically thick blanket of wildfire smoke Thursday morning, which sent Air Quality Index (AQI) values to an extraordinary Code Purple level, signifying the air is unhealthy for everyone.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments confirmed the Code Purple conditions in a news release Thursday morning and said they were unprecedented for particle pollution. Code Purple is the second-worst of six color-coded levels in the AQI.
“The D.C. region has not previously recorded a Code Purple day for fine particle pollution,” the council’s statement said. “In 2012, the region recorded two days for ozone pollution that would qualify as Code Purple by the current 2015 standards.”
The Franconia location just south of Washington was even reporting Code Maroon air quality levels Thursday morning — the worst level in the AQI, signifying “hazardous conditions.”
Thursday marked the second day of historically poor air quality.
On Wednesday, the AQI averaged Code Red levels for 24 hours, establishing records throughout the region.
“The PM2.5 monitor near Franconia measured a 24hr AQI of 176 yesterday. This breaks the previous record for the DC-Arlington-Alexandria area,” tweeted NASA air quality scientist Ryan Stauffer. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter that is very fine, 2.5 microns or less wide.
According to government data, top AQI values in the immediate Washington area before Wednesday were 174 and 166 on July 4 in 2000 and 2020, respectively. The previous highest AQI outside Independence Day was 162 on Feb. 19, 2011.
Within the District, AQI values of 164 at King-Greenleaf Recreation Center and 162 at McMillan Reservoir also set records.
Wednesday’s AQI values were record or near record across the region. (AirNow)
It’s probable that the region will break AQI records again Thursday.
The Franconia station’s AQI value has been at or above 167 since midnight Thursday and ranged from 211 to 313 between 6 and 9 a.m.
The monitoring station in Franconia spiked past Code Purple to Code Maroon this morning. (AirNow)
By: Ian Livingston and Jason Samenow
10:50 AM: See wildfire smoke creep from Canada into the U.S. in satellite images
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Smoke from Canadian wildfires has blanketed the East Coast of the United States, prompting health concerns in cities with unhealthy air quality and grounding flights. A low-pressure weather system is carrying the smoke south.
The latest generation of weather satellites captured how smoke choked large swaths of the United States on Wednesday. The images were produced by Colorado State University, the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Dakota Smith, a CIRA satellite analyst, went a step further and animated the imagery — showing how weather systems and the fires interacted with each other throughout May and early June.
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By: Ben Brasch and Julie Vitkovskaya
10:24 AM: N.Y., Philadelphia, D.C. flights delayed because of wildfire smoke
© David R. Martin/AP
A Southwest airliner approaches LaGuardia Airport in New York through a thick orange haze on Wednesday.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that flights into airports in New York, Philadelphia and Washington will probably be delayed, and that the agency might step in to manage air traffic farther south at Charlotte Douglas International Airport as smoke from the Canadian wildfires causes low visibility in key East Coast cities.
The agency said in a statement that Thursday’s situation is rapidly evolving and advised passengers to check its website for the most current information.
Early Thursday, the FAA paused flights into New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Philadelphia International Airport from cities in the Northeast, Ohio and Mid-Atlantic portions of the country. Those restrictions were later lifted, but delays remain.
On Wednesday, the agency halted arrivals at LaGuardia for about an hour because of to poor visibility. It also slowed air traffic into Newark Liberty International, Philadelphia and Dulles International airports.
The effects of the slowdown — as well as storms in Texas — rippled through the national airspace system, causing widespread delays. According to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.com, more than 5,700 flights into, within and out of the United States were delayed.
In the Washington region, Metro transit officials said that haziness might be visible in stations, but that filtration systems on trains and buses remove about 98 percent of pollutants.
By: Lori Aratani
10:09 AM: ‘Let’s never do this again’: The Empire State Building under the smoke
The impact of the smoke from Canada’s wildfires on life in New York City could perhaps best be seen through one of its iconic landmarks: the Empire State Building.
The social media account of the 1,454-foot building sent updates throughout the day and tried to find the lighter side of the situation as the air quality worsened.
“Where are my friends?” read one tweet, accompanied by a picture of drastically reduced visibility.
“Is there life on Mars?” said another, before a final message implored: “Let’s never do this again.”
By: Victoria Bisset
9:57 AM: Analysis from Justine McDaniel, General Assignment reporter
A ground stop at Philadelphia International Airport was lifted Thursday morning by the Federal Aviation Administration. Delays remained possible at Newark and LaGuardia airports.
9:56 AM: Where the air quality is unhealthy, hazardous across eastern U.S. right now
© EPA/EPA
A map of air quality reports across the eastern U.S. (EPA)
Thursday morning dawned with a milky white veil that enshrouded much of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. The worst of the wildfire smoke was present over southeast Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the Delmarva Peninsula and the D.C.-Baltimore corridor.
That was the “Code Purple” zone, or areas with “hazardous” air quality that the Environmental Protection Agency says can be dangerous to the general population.
A broader zone — from the Connecticut River and Hudson Valleys in western New England and New York State to Lake Erie and down the Appalachians toward Virginia — was plastered with Code Red alerts, marking “unhealthy” air quality. A second red zone encapsulated Michigan and eastern Ohio.
Air quality indexes below 50 are considered good; over 100, and pollution can pose an issue for vulnerable populations — like those with respiratory or heart conditions. Here was a roundup of air quality indexes as of 9 a.m. Eastern time:
- Harrisburg, Pa.: 387
- Lancaster, Pa.: 339
- Wilmington, Del.: 281
- Washington: 273
- Philadelphia: 250
- New York City: 228
- Baltimore: 223
- Albany, N.Y.: 193
- State College, Pa.: 188
- Hartford, Conn.: 174
- Grand Rapids, Mich.: 127
- Syracuse, N.Y.: 148
- Cincinnati: 128
- Pittsburgh: 121
The pollution comes in the form of PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, which can be a lung irritant. Reports of stinging eyes and sore throats have been common. Many residents have turned to N95 masks.
By: Matthew Cappucci
9:48 AM: National Zoo in D.C. closed Thursday because of poor air quality
The National Zoo in Washington is closed Thursday because of the poor air quality due to wildfire smoke coming from Canada. In a Twitter posting, officials said “for the safety of our animals, our staff and our guests” they decided to close for the day.
Pamela Baker-Masson, a spokeswoman for the zoo, said Thursday morning that because the air quality had deteriorated to reach the Code Purple or “very unhealthy” level, and because the zoo is a “predominantly outdoor facility, we don’t want to put any guests, staff or animals at risk by keeping them outdoors.”
On Wednesday, the zoo was open and zoo officials said they were keeping many animals inside instead of in their outdoor enclosures because of the bad air quality. Baker-Masson said more animals would be kept indoors Thursday and they’d be closely monitored.
As for the next few days, she said the zoo was taking it “one day at a time.” Officials will watch the air quality index to see if it moves downward, in which case it would likely reopen.
For now, she said, “we’re keeping staff and animals indoors as much as possible.”
By: Dana Hedgpeth
9:26 AM: How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke
© Tom Brenner/For the Washington Post
Capitol Segway tour guide Justin Emata wears a protective face mask while riding a Segway, during a tour outside the White House on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires were visible throughout the region Wednesday.
As smoke from raging wildfires in Canada continues drifting into parts of the United States, it’s critical to know how you can protect yourself from potentially dangerous levels of air pollution.
Wildfire smoke contains toxic gases and particulate matter — solid particles and liquid droplets that are produced when fires burn through trees, buildings and other materials. While some particulate matter can be easily seen in the form of soot, smoke also carries smaller particles that can infiltrate the body.
Whether you’re outdoors or indoors, experts say smoke pollution could harm your health. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe.
By: Allyson Chiu
9:11 AM: D.C. air quality keeps children indoors, poses risks for vulnerable
© Matt McClain/The Washington Post
June 7 | Washington A cyclist rides along the Potomac River across Arlington, Va.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires that reached the D.C. area this week grounded Little League games, canceled school recess and prompted the National Zoo to move a vulnerable 2-week-old baby gorilla inside on Wednesday.
A thick haze cast an orange glow over otherwise clear skies, triggering rare Code Red and even Code Purple air quality alerts and reducing visibility to two miles at times. Inbound flights from several East Coast airports, including Washington Dulles International Airport, were delayed up to 30 minutes due to wildfire smoke, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. There may be gradual improvement in air quality Friday, but with the fire season in Canada only beginning, forecasters say smoke could be palpable throughout the summer.
By: Jenna Portnoy and Mary Claire Molloy
8:56 AM: Analysis from Justine McDaniel, General Assignment reporter
The heavy smoke grounded flights at Philadelphia International Airport on Thursday morning. The Federal Aviation Administration called the ground stop from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m., according to an advisory. Flights at New York’s LaGuardia Airport were also delayed due to low visibility.
8:48 AM: Maps show how the smoke will move during Thursday’s workday
© Provided by The Washington Post
Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows how near-surface smoke — the smoke that causes irritation to people — is forecast to move over the course of Thursday. Some of the heaviest smoke in the Northeast, represented by the purple streaks, is expected to improve by 5 p.m., and the Southeast is expected to begin seeing some clearing, as well, as it moves east over the Atlantic Ocean.
NOAA’s forecast map shows the heaviest smoke may begin clearing in parts of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey, but a significant amount will linger in many areas in those states by 5 p.m. More will move across Pennsylvania, reaching the northwest corner of the state.
Smoke will also remain over the eastern Great Lakes, Toronto and parts of Ontario.
By: Samuel Granados and Justine McDaniel
8:38 AM: Video: The health impacts of wildfire smoke
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By: Amudalat Ajasa and John Farrell
8:28 AM: Pennsylvania now at the center of worst air quality
© Matt Slocum/AP
Evening commuters travel on Broad Street in Philadelphia past a hazy City Hall on Wednesday.
The worst of the air-quality issues are now affecting Pennsylvania, where a reading of 476 was recorded in Lancaster County in the state’s southeast early Thursday.
That number comes from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index, which goes from 0 to 500; the higher the number, the worse the air quality. The index has six color-coded alert levels. The worst is maroon, or hazardous, which applies to readings of 301 or higher and is a “health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected.”
Air quality in much of the rest of the state is at red or purple, signifying unhealthy or very unhealthy readings.
On Wednesday, the worst air had been over New York, but it has since moved south.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the weather pattern pushing the smoke from Quebec’s wildfires is expected to continue to affect most of the state until Friday.
By: Victoria Bisset
8:12 AM: Analysis from Victoria Bisset, Breaking news, international news
Flights in the Northeastern United States will continue to be affected by reduced visibility caused by smoke from the Canadian wildfires, the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday.
“We will likely need to take steps to manage the flow of traffic safely into New York City, DC, Philadelphia and Charlotte,” the FAA tweeted.
8:01 AM: Canadian wildfire smoke engulfs New York City skyline, Statue of Liberty
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By: Naomi Schanen
7:39 AM: Analysis from Niha Masih, Breaking news reporter focusing on U.S. and global events
Large parts of the province of Quebec will experience poor air quality Thursday, the Canadian weather agency said, with some parts experiencing high concentrations of fine particulate matter and smoggy conditions, which may persist for “a few more days.”
7:27 AM: Analysis from Niha Masih, Breaking news reporter focusing on U.S. and global events
NASA has warned that smoke from Canadian wildfires is spreading as far south as Alabama. The poor air quality has disrupted daily lives and prompted New York officials to urge residents to mask up outdoors.
7:10 AM: Widespread Code Red and Purple air quality in D.C. area, worse than Wednesday
Air quality index at 6 a.m. Thursday.
Residents in the Washington and Baltimore regions are awakening to their worst air quality in years. EPA air quality monitors are reporting widespread Code Red and Code Purple conditions, signifying unhealthy conditions for most people and especially those with respiratory concerns. Toward Baltimore, some monitors are reading Code Maroon, signifying hazardous “emergency” conditions, unhealthy for everyone.
Under these conditions, people are advised to limit their time outside, avoid strenuous exercise and/or wear an N95 or KN95 mask.
(D. C. government)
By: Jason Samenow
7:00 AM: Analysis from Victoria Bisset, Breaking news, international news
New York will provide 1 million N95 masks to residents Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced on Twitter. Officials in New York City have advised at-risk individuals to use high-quality masks when leaving their homes amid the poor air quality.
6:48 AM: Analysis from Niha Masih, Breaking news reporter focusing on U.S. and global events
The hazardous air quality in New York has prompted a warning from the United Nations. It is critical to reduce risk from wildfires, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said in a tweet, sharing an image from the organization’s headquarters that showed smoke blanketing the city’s skyscrapers. “We cannot give up,” he wrote.
6:35 AM: Wildfire smoke postpones MLB games and other East Coast sporting events
© Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
June 7 | Philadelphia Citizens Bank Park during hazy conditions. The baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and Phillies has been postponed because of unsafe air quality.
Several sporting events were postponed on Wednesday because of smoke from Canadian wildfires that blanketed the East Coast this week.
Major League Baseball games set to be played in New York and Philadelphia, including the Yankees’ matchup with the Chicago White Sox, were rescheduled. Concerning atmospheric conditions also caused women’s basketball, women’s soccer, horse racing and other events to be postponed or canceled.
By: Des Bieler
6:19 AM: Are the wildfires in Canada under control?
Not yet. There were 437 active fires across Canada early Thursday — 248 of them out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC).
In the western province of Alberta, 73 active wildfires were burning early Thursday, of which almost two dozen were labeled out of control, province data showed. And in British Columbia, of 82 active wildfires, 29 were considered out of control, province data showed.
In the east, the French-speaking province of Quebec had the highest number of active wildfires at 154, according to the CIFFC. Province data showed that 92 fires were out of control early Thursday. On Wednesday, authorities evacuated at least three communities in Quebec — Chibougamau, Oujé-Bougoumou and Senneterre — and asked residents not to ignore evacuation orders.
By: Annabelle Timsit
5:58 AM: ‘Killing Eve’ star leaves NYC stage after 10 minutes due to air quality
© Mary Inhea Kang for The Washington Post
Actress Jodie Comer.
“Killing Eve” star Jodie Comer left the stage minutes into a performance due to breathing difficulties Wednesday, according to the Hollywood Reporter, as her one-woman show “Prima Facie” became the latest show in New York City to be affected by the wildfire smoke.
“Today’s matinee of ‘Prima Facie’ was halted approximately 10 minutes into the performance after Jodie Comer had difficulty breathing due to the poor air quality in New York City because of smoke from the Canadian wildfires,” a spokesperson for the production told the Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday. An understudy took over the matinee performance.
Comer had just started her performance when she coughed and told the stage manager “I can’t breathe in this air,” an audience member told Deadline.
Separately, the Writers Guild announced that it would cancel all pickets on Thursday and Friday due to the air quality issues.
By: Victoria Bisset
5:33 AM: Analysis from Bryan Pietsch, Reporter in Seoul covering U.S. and international news
The musical “Hamilton” canceled its Wednesday evening performance on Broadway, saying the air quality in New York had “made it impossible for a number of our artists to perform this evening.” The Lincoln Center Theater also canceled Wednesday’s performance of “Camelot.”
5:05 AM: How a climate-catalyzed ‘heat dome’ helped fires spread
Wildfires can be sparked in many ways — be it lightning, arson, unintentional ignition caused by vehicles or negligence. Some of the Quebec fires were ignited by lightning, but the conditions that fostered their growth — along with others in central and western Canada — were catalyzed by human-caused climate change.
This year’s Canadian fires first cropped up beneath a heat dome — a sprawling ridge of high pressure. That high pressure diverted the jet stream and any rainfall away, allowing sunshine to pour down while bringing hot, sinking air. That dried out the landscape, allowing conditions ripe for the quick kindling of wildfires.
Multiple intense heat domes have languished over south-central Canada, drifting west and east at times, since April. Each has brought with it a spattering of wildfires. These domes are made more intense and larger by elevated concentrations of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere released through human activity.
Many areas of central and western Canada experienced their warmest May on record.
By: Matthew Cappucci
5:04 AM: U.S. and other countries send firefighters to fight Canada fires
© Daniel Cole/Pool/Reuters
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to rescue workers at the Nimes-Garons firefighters air base, near Nimes France on June 2, 2023. France is one of several countries that have sent firefighters to assist Canada in battling wildfires.
President Biden offered all available federal firefighting resources to bring an end to the wildfires in Canada during a call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau late Wednesday, according to a White House statement.
“To date, the United States has deployed more than 600 U.S. firefighters and support personnel, and other firefighting assets to respond to the fires,” it said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the same day that hundreds of U.S. firefighters had already arrived, with more on the way.
The United States isn’t the only country to send personnel to help end the wildfires: Last Thursday, South Africa announced it was deploying more than 200 personnel to Alberta, while Reuters reports that Australia and New Zealand have sent 224 firefighters.
France is also sending 100 soldiers to help authorities in Quebec, as well as a number of experts.
By: Victoria Bisset and Niha Masih
5:04 AM: What should you do if a wildfire is approaching your area?
© Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press/AP
A firefighter battles a grass fire burning behind a residential property in Kamloops, British Columbia, on Monday, June 5, 2023. No structures were damaged but firefighters had to deal with extremely windy conditions while putting out the blaze. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press/AP)
If you’re in one of the wildfire-affected areas in Canada, authorities recommend creating an emergency plan — which should cover issues including safe escape routes, where to meet family or roommates, and health insurance information — as well as preparing an emergency kit with supplies to last at least 72 hours.
The government recommends that people living in potential risk areas should remove dried branches, leaves and other fire hazards from around their homes, ensure they have access to a sprinkler, and check their fire alarms.
Before a fire, it’s also important to make sure you have enough fuel in your vehicle.
During an emergency, keep on top of wildfire news from local media and officials — and call emergency numbers to report a fire approaching your home or community, authorities say.
If it’s safe to do so, close all doors and windows and cover any vents or windows inside your house, and keep the lights on. Place your emergency kit and any valuables inside your car, which should be parked forward facing out of your driveway.
Do not attempt to drive through a wildfire.
By: Victoria Bisset
