New York City is on high alert as smoke from raging wildfires in Canada drifts down, prompting a health advisory from the state's Environmental Conservation and Health departments. This warning affects not only the city but also Long Island, lower and upper Hudson Valley, and the Adirondacks. Officials are detailing that air quality in these regions is "unhealthy for sensitive groups," potentially reaching an air quality index (AQI) of 135.
The alarming situation arises as over 550 fires burn throughout Canada, primarily in Manitoba, leading to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. Such hazardous conditions are not new; similar alerts were recently issued for Chicago due to the same wildfires. The AQI is crucial for understanding pollution levels, with higher numbers indicating a greater risk to health.
Furthermore, the political fallout from this environmental crisis has reached Washington, where several Congress members have expressed frustrations over the impact of the smoke on summer activities in the U.S. Climate scientists have indicated that climate change is intensifying wildfire seasons, with Canada warming at twice the global average.
