Wildfire smoke and air quality updates: Northeast flights disrupted

Air quality alerts have been issued for states across the Northeast.

Hazy and dangerous fumes from ongoing wildfires in Canada have engulfed the skies over much of the East Coast, prompting serious air quality alerts in over a dozen states.

Canadian officials said firefighters are scrambling to put out the blazes. So far this wildfire season, Canada has seen more than 8.7 million acres burned -- an area larger than the state of Vermont.


Latest forecast

The large plume of hazardous wildfire smoke that moved through New York City on Wednesday drifted into the Mid-Atlantic Thursday, bringing dangerous air conditions to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.

By Thursday night, the thickest smoke will continue to spread over the Mid-Atlantic. AQI values may reach 400 in some areas. (Levels under 100 are generally considered safe.)

By Friday morning, the hazardous haze will be covering Pittsburgh and the Chesapeake Bay.

The smoke may thin out during the day on Friday with cities like New York City seeing clearer conditions by Friday evening.

Major relief will move in by Monday when a cold front sweeps across the East, washing away much of the smoke in the air.

-ABC News' Daniel Amarante


NYC extends Air Quality Health Advisory until Friday night

New York City's Air Quality Health Advisory has been extended to Friday night.

While the AQI in New York City has been dropping significantly throughout the day, as of Thursday afternoon it registered at 178, which is still considered unhealthy.

Totals were over 400 in New York City on Wednesday. Levels under 100 are generally considered safe.


NYC schools will be remote on Friday

Learning will be remote on Friday for New York City public schools.



What you need to know about the dangers of inhaling wildfire smoke

Air quality is measured by the Environmental Protection Agency’s air quality index (AQI), which ranges from 0 to 500. A higher level indicates a greater level of pollution and health concern.

Levels under 100 are generally considered safe.

Totals were over 400 in New York City on Wednesday.

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1 million N95 masks to be made available Thursday in New York

One million N95 masks will be made available for people at state sites in New York on Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday.

Officials will distribute 400,000 masks at MTA stations, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, state parks and the Javits Center, Hochul said. About 600,000 masks will be available from the state’s Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services, the governor said.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday visited New York City Housing Authority residents to deliver masks, according to his office, which released photos and a short video on Twitter.

-ABC News’ Darren Reynolds and Ahmad Hemingway