Wildfire smoke updates: CDC issues health alert on wildfire smoke exposure
The smoke is forecast to dissipate over the weekend.
Millions of Americans are on alert for unhealthy air quality as smoke from wildfires in neighboring Canada drifts to the United States.
Wildfires have burned a record of 20 million acres across Canada so far this year, with no end in sight. There are currently 500 active wildfires throughout the country and more than 250 have been deemed out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. The smoke has been making its way to the U.S. for over a month.
Latest headlines:
Air quality health advisory issued in New York
While the poor air quality is mostly hovering over the Midwest, the dangerous smoke is also drifting toward the East Coast.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has expanded Wednesday's air quality health advisory to include the entire state.
"Air in Western New York, Central New York, and the Eastern Lake Ontario regions is forecast to be 'Unhealthy,'" Hochul's office said. "The forecast for the remainder of the state, including New York City and Long Island, is 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.'"
Chicago's Air Quality Alert in effect until Wednesday night
In Chicago, where the Air Quality Index is in the "very unhealthy" category, an Air Quality Alert is in effect until Wednesday night.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is urging "particularly sensitive populations, including individuals with heart or lung disease, older adults, pregnant people, and young children" to avoid outdoor activities.
Camps have been moved indoors where possible, the mayor said, and he's encouraging "Chicagoans without access to properly ventilated and safe indoor conditions" to "please utilize our public libraries, senior centers, Park District facilities, and the Cultural Center or the six community service centers that operate from 9am-5pm."
White House monitoring air quality issues as Biden visits Chicago
President Joe Biden has touched down in Chicago for fundraising and an economic address, and the White House said his schedule has not been modified due to the poor air quality in the city.
"No modifications to today's schedule that I'm aware of as a result of this," principal deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton said. "But certainly, we are monitoring the air quality issues across the country closely and federal agencies are ensuring that federal resources are available in affected regions as appropriate."
The Air Quality Index in hazy Chicago reached 207 on Wednesday morning. Any number over 100 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
-ABC News' Molly Nagle
How to stay safe from wildfire smoke amid reduced air quality
Wildfire smoke and ash can irritate eyes, nose, throat and lungs, making you cough or wheeze and can make it hard to breathe, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC says the most effective way to protect yourself during wildfire emergencies is to stay indoors or limit time outdoors when there is smoke in the air. This is especially important for those with heart or lung conditions who are at higher risk for adverse health effects.
"People who are most at risk are [the] elderly, immunocompromised, young children and people who already have respiratory problems, people with asthma and things like that," said Dr. Stephanie Widmer, a member of ABC News' Medical Unit.
Read more here.
-ABC News' Nadine El-Bawab and Youri Benadjaoud
New York to roll out air quality phone alerts
New York will be rolling out phone alerts to remind residents to take precautions amid the poor air quality, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday.
The Air Quality Index is currently in the "unhealthy" category in Rochester and Buffalo.
"The truth is, there is no end in sight," Hochul said at news conference, noting the conditions could linger off and on through the summer. "This is the new normal for New Yorkers."
Phone alerts will be sent in areas where the Air Quality Index is above 200 for one hour or longer. Announcements will also be made on mass transit, where hundreds of thousands of masks will be handed out.
Hochul said it is too early to know about the air quality over the July 4 holiday.
“We don't know what is going to happen beyond the next couple days -- today will be very bad, tomorrow will be very bad. We expect to see the winds start to dissipate over the next couple days. It is impossible for us at this point to predict the holiday celebrations," she said.
Jackie Bray, commissioner of New York's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, added that it's "totally appropriate to keep the pools open today, totally appropriate for people to be out, as long as they don't fall into these sensitive groups."
-ABC News' Aaron Katersky