Smoky conditions in the United States are beginning to show signs of improvement.
Smoke from Canadian wildland fires continues to choke skies in American cities in the north. The massive amount of smoke is still expected to contribute to hazardous air quality in affected cities in the foreseeable future.
Smoke and haze from Canadian fires drifted southward into the United States, impacting air quality in major cities and surrounding areas to dangerous levels. Videos posted on social media show smoke enveloping New York City and changing the color of the sky to orange in a matter of hours.
President Joe Biden has since deployed extra firefighting resources and personnel to contain the historic blazes. The National Weather Service in New York reported that as long as these fires remain uncontained, conditions for the coming weeks will depend on wind patterns.
The patterns are not predicted to shift anytime soon.
The NWS in New York tweeted on June 8 that wind patterns directing the smoke into the United States are expected to remain consistent throughout this upcoming weekend.
“A stalled low-pressure system near Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces will sustain northerly winds from the fires in Quebec, directing the smoke into portions of the northeastern U.S,” said the NWS in the tweet.
Citizens are still advised to remain indoors if possible while the smoke remains in the air. The NWS cautioned that exposure could result in respiratory issues such as asthma attacks, difficulty breathing, and other side effects.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advised that while the majority of healthy adults and adolescents will not experience long-lasting impacts from exposure, those with chronic, cardiovascular, and respiratory illnesses would be the most at risk of suffering severe complications.
Despite the expectation of continued conditions, air quality in some cities has shown improvement.
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York said in a tweet on June 9 that air quality in New York has seen some improvement.
“Air quality conditions in New York are gradually improving, but are not yet back to normal — especially in New York City, Western New York, and on Long Island,” Hochul tweeted.
Hochul also advised that children, seniors, and those with respiratory illnesses continue to take precautions.
Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey tweeted images of how the smoke impacted other areas with an emphasis on climate change.
“This smoke will eventually pass, but the effects of climate change are not going anywhere. If we do not take action as a country, what will the future look like for our younger generations?” Murphy asked.
Airnow features an interactive map of the nation showcasing air quality produced by the smoke. Use this map to receive air quality updates in near real-time.