Insane time-lapse video shows how quickly wildfire smoke camouflaged NYC
New York City was shrouded in a thick orange haze on Wednesday as smoke from hundreds of active wildfires in Canada drifted over the city, resulting in some of the worst air quality since the 1960s. A video posted on Twitter by the National Weather Service (NWS) shows a clear skyline at 11am slowly disappearing into the orange smoke. By 2pm, the skyscrapers were barely visible.
In a statement, the NWS warned that those vulnerable to poor air quality, including seniors and young children, should limit outdoor time if possible. Mayor Eric Adams said the air quality was so poor that it nearly topped the entire air quality scale at 484. He added that the air quality index was even worse than after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
However, the air from the wildfires does not contain the same level of toxins as the debris cloud that shrouded the city following the World Trade Center tower collapses. Although the conditions were expected to improve after Wednesday night, the air quality was set to worsen again throughout Thursday afternoon. Schools Chancellor David Banks said that public schools, which were already scheduled to be closed on Thursday, would remain closed on Friday if the air quality did not improve.
Governor Hochul is shipping 400,000 masks to New York City, while Adams said the city has masks in its reserves from the pandemic and a distribution program is set to begin. NYC Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan emphasized that the air was “extremely dangerous”, but so far there has not been an increase in ER visits due to the conditions.
FAQs:
What caused the orange haze in New York City?
The orange haze over New York City was caused by smoke from hundreds of active wildfires in Canada, which had drifted over the city due to weather conditions.
What should vulnerable individuals do during poor air quality conditions?
The National Weather Service warned that those vulnerable to poor air quality, such as seniors and young children, should limit outdoor time if possible.
How does the air quality index scale work?
The air quality index (AQI) scale is used to measure the quality of the air. An AQI of 100 is considered “moderate”, while a level of 301 to 500 is regarded as “hazardous” and can cause serious health risks. On Wednesday, New York City’s AQI nearly topped the entire scale at 484.
How can individuals protect themselves during poor air quality conditions?
Individuals can protect themselves during poor air quality conditions by avoiding outdoor activities, wearing masks, using air filters in their homes, and monitoring air quality through resources such as the Air Quality Index (AQI) app.
Rapid-fire time-lapse footage demonstrates how rapidly NYC vanished beneath the smokescreen of wildfire.
New York City was shrouded in thick smoke on Wednesday, as hundreds of active wildfires in Canada caused visibility to deteriorate rapidly. A video posted by the National Weather Service on Twitter shows a clear skyline at around 11 a.m., but by 2 p.m. the skyscrapers are almost impossible to see through the orange haze. Air pollution was so poor that it almost topped the entire air quality scale at 484, the worst in the city since the 1960s, according to Mayor Eric Adams. Despite the poor air quality, the haze from the Canadian wildfires is not as toxic as the debris cloud that followed the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. Conditions were expected to improve after 9 p.m. on Wednesday but to worsen again on Thursday afternoon. The city has set up a distribution program for masks and will decide on Thursday whether schools will be closed on Friday.