NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- The Canadian wildfire smoke that engulfed New York City in an orange haze Wednesday—creating the five boroughs' worst air on record—lingered Thursday as weather alerts, health warnings and disruptions to everyday life continued across the Tri-State area.
Air quality hit "hazardous" levels during Wednesday's smoke-out, with the Air Quality Index reaching 484 on a 0–500 scale. Mayor Eric Adams called it the worst AQI since at least the 1960s. Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state is in a "crisis" that may be just a preview of things to come.
While poor air quality and haze will continue Thursday, there is hope on the smoky horizon—forecasts show an incremental clearing Friday and into the weekend. Meanwhile, the U.S. has sent over 600 firefighters to help Canada fight hundreds of out-of-control fires in Quebec.
THURSDAY, JUNE 8
4 p.m. -- Alternate Side Parking suspended for Friday
The Department of Transportation announced Thursday that the city will suspend alternate side parking regulations for Friday due to air quality. Parking meters remain in effect, the DOT added.
3 p.m. -- Air Quality Advisory extended till midnight Friday night
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation extended the air quality health advisory for New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland counties.
2 p.m. -- Biden says fires 'stark reminder' of climate change impacts
President Joe Biden released a statement Thursday on the Canadian wildfires, saying their effects are a "stark reminder of the impacts of climate change."
More than 600 U.S. firefighters have been deployed to Canada to help battle the wildfires, which have had "huge impacts here in the United States," the president said.
"Yesterday I spoke with Prime Minister Trudeau and offered any additional help Canada needs to rapidly accelerate the effort to put out these fires, particularly those in Quebec, where the fires are having the most direct impacts on American communities," Biden said.
The White House will continue to assist Canada as needed, as well as monitor air traffic and air quality in the U.S., he said.
1 p.m. -- NYC public schools to go remote Friday
Any New York City public school students or staff that were scheduled to attend in-person on Friday will pivot to remote learning or remote work instead, the city Department of Education announced.
Schools serving grades 9-12 and 6-12 in Districts 1-32 and 79 will shift to remote instruction, while early childhood contracted programs will have the option of transitioning to remote learning for all children.
Most public school students already had off Friday for a clerical day. They're also off Thursday for Anniversary Day.
12:45 p.m. -- NYC tied for worst air in the world again
A day after recording the worst air quality of any large city in the world on Wednesday, New York City was atop the list again Thursday, according to the Swiss monitoring service IQAir.
The New York metropolitan area was tied with Dhaka, Bangladesh, for the world's worst Air Quality Index level. Both cities had an AQI of 163 on a 0–500 scale as of 12:45 p.m. New York had been #1 around noon.
An AQI over 150 is considered "unhealthy," thought it's still better than the "hazardous" 484 AQI level that New York recorded on Wednesday afternoon, when it topped Delhi, India, for the world's worst air quality. Delhi was seventh on the list Thursday.
12 p.m. -- NJ governor urges people to stay inside during 'historic' smoke
Gov. Phil Murphy implored New Jerseyans to stay inside Thursday if they're able to and to wear a mask if they must go outside.
The entire state is under an Air Quality Alert on Thursday, like the rest of the New York City area.
The Air Quality Index is considered "very unhealthy" across the state. On a 0–500 scale, it's 285 in South Jersey, 227 in Central Jersey and 226 in Jersey City.
"What we have seen is unprecedented," the governor said at a Thursday morning news conference. "The widespread nature and uncommonly high levels of fine particulate concentrations reaching the 'unhealthy' category is of a historic magnitude."
11:45 a.m. -- Adams says NYC won't mandate event closures, for now
Asked on Thursday if the city would force the closure of events like the Yankees' double-header in the Bronx on Thursday evening and the beginning of the Governors Ball music fest in Queens on Friday, Mayor Eric Adams said the city will leave the decision up to venues but added that the city is "willing to" shut down events as necessary for public health.
"There's a reason the term 'game-time decision' is introduced into sports," the mayor told reporters at City Hall. "Some of this stuff is just so unpredictable."
"Mother Nature is going to do what Mother Nature desires to do," he continued. "We're going to give our recommendations. We haven't reached the point of mandating. It's going to come down to the organizers."
The Yankees postponed Wednesday's game against the White Sox because of poor air quality and have been monitoring conditions for the Thursday double-header.
The Governors Ball is still scheduled to take place Friday to Sunday.
11:15 a.m. -- Belmont Stakes, Governors Ball Festival still on
The Belmont Stakes and Governors Ball music festival are still scheduled for this weekend as organizers monitor the wildfire smoke.
The New York Racing Association canceled live racing Thursday at Belmont Park in Nassau County due to poor air conditions.
However, Saturday's 155th running of the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, is still set to happen, as conditions are expected to be clearer by then.
"Safety is paramount as we navigate this unprecedented situation," NYRA president David O'Rourke said in a statement. "Based on current forecast models and consultation with our external weather services, we remain optimistic that we will see an improvement in air quality on Friday."
The 2023 Governors Ball, scheduled to run Friday, Saturday and Sunday, will take place as planned, organizers said.
Still, organizers said they're "closely monitoring the air quality with weather experts and are in close contact with city officials."
The popular three-day festival takes place at Flushing Meadows Corona Park with a star-studded lineup that includes headliners Lizzo, Kendrick Lamar and Odesza.
9:45 a.m. -- FDNY to distribute masks across NYC Thursday
The FDNY will be distributing N95 masks in all five boroughs on Thursday.
Manhattan
Division 1 — 100 Duane St., Tribeca
Division 3 — 207 W. 77th St., Upper West Side
The Bronx
Division 6 — 720 Melrose Ave., Melrose
Division 7 — 2417 Webster Ave., Fordham Heights
Brooklyn
Division 11 — 172 Tillary St., Downtown Brooklyn
Division 15 — 885 Howard Ave., Brownsville
Queens
Division 13 — 91-45 121st St., Richmond Hill
Division 14 — 108-01 Horace Harding Exp., Corona
Staten Island
Division 8 — 1850 Clove Rd., Grasmere
9:30 a.m. -- Some schools in NY, NJ close because of poor air
A number of school districts have canceled classes Thursday because of poor air quality.
Among them are Freeport, Long Beach and Yonkers in New York, and Newark, Elizabeth, Union and Orange in New Jersey.
New York City public schools were already scheduled to be closed Thursday for Anniversary Day/Chancellor's Conference and on Friday for a clerical day.
The city's schools canceled all outdoor activities Thursday, just as they did Wednesday.
Some colleges were also going remote Thursday.
9 a.m. -- NYC's worst air Thursday will be in the morning
The worst air quality in New York City on Thursday will likely be in the morning, with conditions incrementally getting better in the afternoon and evening as a breeze moves in and showers possibly develop, according to AccuWeather.
The city should be out of "hazardous" levels of air quality later Thursday and Friday. There may be some haze going into the weekend, but it shouldn't be the dense, orange clouds that overtook the city on Wednesday afternoon.
Additionally, rain in the forecast Thursday afternoon and again Friday should help minimize the local fire risk in the New York area, which is in a dry spell.
An air quality alert issued by the National Weather Service is in effect for the five city boroughs, Long Island, and Westchester, Rockland, Orange and Putnam counties until midnight Thursday night. In North Jersey, Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, and Union counties are under the alert.
8:30 a.m. -- Alternate Side Parking suspended in NYC due to smoke
Alternate Side Parking rules are suspended Thursday due to the air quality, officials said. Parking meters are in effect.
8:15 a.m. -- FAA cancels ground stop at LaGuardia, flights slowed
The FAA canceled a brief ground stop Thursday morning at LaGuardia Airport that was put in place due to low visibility, but flights were being slowed as the airport managed traffic.
Ground delays persisted, with average delays of nearly an hour and maximum delays of about 90 minutes.
Delays have also been reported at Newark and JFK airports.
7:45 a.m. -- Bronx, Queens, Central Park zoos remain closed
The Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and New York Aquarium will remain closed Thursday due to the wildfire smoke, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the zoos.
In a statement, the WCS cited the "continuing air quality alert in New York City and concern for our staff, visitors and animals, our four zoos and our aquarium."
"Animals will remain indoors where possible," the statement continued. "Our staff is taking precautions necessary for the animals, and we continue to monitor their health as always. At this time, no animals are showing adverse effects or having any issues related to the air quality."
7:30 a.m. -- 1 million masks to be distributed in NYC area
In a move reminiscent of the worst days of the pandemic, New York state will distribute 1 million N95 masks in the New York City area starting Thursday.
According to the governor's office, 400,000 masks will be distributed at state-owned facilities, including the Javits Center, state parks, and MTA and Port Authority locations. Another 600,000 masks will be made available to local governments.
Masks will be available at Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station, Fulton Center, Jamaica Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal (main concourse, south wing), Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park (Harlem), and Roberto Clemente State Park (the Bronx).
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