With smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires continuing to pour into New York City, Mayor Eric Adams urged New Yorkers to limit their outdoor activity Wednesday as the city braces for multiple days of poor air quality.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for New York City through Wednesday.
City officials during a news conference Wednesday morning said they expect that advisory to stretch into Thursday.
“Yesterday, New Yorkers saw and smelled something that has never impacted us on this scale before,” Mayor Adams said. “From the gloom over Yankee Stadium to the smoky haze obscuring our skyline, we can see it, we can smell it, and we felt it. It was alarming and concerning.”
At 10 p.m. on Tuesday, the air quality index in New York City hit 218, a “very unhealthy level,” Adams said. By 7 a.m.
Wednesday morning, the air quality index stood at 174 in the Bronx, a measurement the city expects to hover around for at least another day, according to the mayor.
As a result, Mayor Adams canceled outdoor activities for New York City Public Schools Wednesday.
Adams called the weather event “unprecedented in our city,” while urging New Yorkers to take all necessary precautions.
The mayor advised vulnerable New Yorkers – those with preexisting respiratory problems, as well as children and older adults who may be especially sensitive – to stay inside.
Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the Department of Health commissioner, said the city has not seen an uptick of hospitalizations related to unhealthy air quality.
Meanwhile, Gov. Kathy Hochul took to Twitter Wednesday morning, urging New Yorkers to take precautions and limit exposure to the poor air quality.