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.
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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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Northeast covered in haze as forecasters warn of more smoke to come
Millions of people in New York City and other locations in the Northeast scrambled to keep themselves free of the smoky air throughout the day and evening Tuesday.
The city's skyline was barely visible for most parts of the day, and the smell of the smoke was strong as commuters hit the evening rush.
Large cities with the lowest air quality include New York City, Albany and Cincinnati, a map by Airnow, a website that publishes air quality data, shows.
Another large and dense plume of smoke will be moving down across parts of the Northeast on Wednesday, according to forecasters.
That batch of very dense smoke will push down across the Northeast throughout the day on Wednesday, giving some relief to New England and the Midwest.
-ABC News' Julia Jacobo, Max Golembo and Daniel Peck
