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 headlines:
White House postpones Pride event
The White House has postponed the Pride celebration set to take place on the South Lawn on Thursday due to the unhealthy air quality.
The largest-ever White House Pride celebration will now take place on Saturday afternoon.
-ABC News' Justin Gomez
Nationals game in DC postponed
Thursday's MLB game in Washington, D.C., between the Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks has been postponed due to the air quality.
The makeup game will be held on June 22.
National Zoo closes as dangerous air hits DC
The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., is closed on Thursday as dangerous smoke moves through the capital.
"Today's air quality is extremely unhealthy," the Department of Energy & Environment warned. "Everyone should stay indoors as much as possible, especially sensitive groups such as children, elderly, pregnant women and people with heart or lung conditions like asthma and bronchitis."
LaGuardia, Philadelphia-bound flights paused from Northeast, Ohio, Mid-Atlantic
Flights from the Northeast, Ohio and the Mid-Atlantic bound for the Philadelphia International Airport and New York City's LaGuardia Airport have been paused due to the smoke, the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday morning.
The FAA cautioned, "We will likely need to take steps to manage the flow of traffic safely into New York City, DC, Philadelphia and Charlotte."
NYC air quality deteriorates to new record level: Mayor
New York City Mayor Eric Adams updated residents on the current situation with the dangerous air quality due to the Canadian wildfires.
He said the city's Air Quality Index, or AQI, hit 484, the highest level on record, on Wednesday afternoon. Anything above 300 is considered hazardous, according to Zachary Iscol, the commissioner for the city's Office of Emergency Management.
"Tomorrow things may improve but an AQI over 150 is still considered dangerous," he told reporters.
Adams said all outdoor events in the city were canceled Thursday and urged private groups to do the same.
"The best thing is that [people] remain indoors," the mayor said.
He reiterated advisories to close windows and to wear a mask if anyone has to travel outside.
Schools were already planned to be closed Thursday, and no decision has been made about the rest of the week, according to the mayor.
Adams said the current forecast shows the situation should improve at the end of the week but warned that the situation can change.
"It is difficult to predict the movement of the smoke," he said.