Relief is in sight. Heavy rainfall in parts of the eastern US on Sunday should help dissipate much of the smoke choking the region as a result of Canadian wildfires, according to the National Weather Service.
Air quality is already showing some signs of improvement, with the level in New York City returning to “moderate” overnight. Still, conditions remain unhealthy for many cities spanning from North Carolina to Rhode Island. Expect some pockets of denser smoke and hazy orange sunsets and sunrises into the weekend.
The impact of the blazes — the worst in Canada’s history — has rippled south, grounding flights, canceling events and forcing millions to mask up or stay inside. President Joe Biden said the US would “respond promptly” to any Canadian requests for more firefighters and air tankers.
Key Stories:
- NYC Air Improves to Moderate for First Time Since Monday
- Heat, Dryness From Climate Change Make Wildfires Much Worse
- ‘Climate Emergency’ Calls Grow as Smoke Chokes Washington
- Wildfire Smoke Increases the Risk of Contracting Covid-19
Here’s the latest news: (All times are NY)
Rain to Bring US Relief by Sunday (3:55 a.m.)
A weather system forecast to bring heavy rainfall to the Ohio and Tennessee valley regions on Sunday “will also allow for much of the lingering wildfire smoke in the eastern U.S. to finally subside,” the National Weather Service said in a forecast.
Still, the smoke “is expected to continue plaguing regions from the Great Lakes to the Mid-Atlantic with reduced air quality” leading up to the weekend. Air Quality Alerts remain in effect.
NYC’s Air Quality Returns to Moderate (2:40 a.m.)
New York City’s current air quality level is “moderate” as of 2 a.m. Eastern time, according to data from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. That’s the first time since Monday that the city’s air quality has been at that level.
Northwell Sees Asthma Treatment Jump in NYC (4:45 p.m. Thursday)
Northwell Health, New York state’s largest health-care provider, saw a mild increase in respiratory illnesses Thursday, spokesman Matt Libassi said. The increase was more significant at Northwell’s locations in New York City. At Lenox Health Greenwich Village, for example, the number of asthma treatments were more than double the average, Libassi said.
Quebec Rain Not Expected Until Monday (4 p.m.)
The fire situation in Quebec is stable as winds have eased, but heavy rain is isn’t expected until Monday evening, Premier Francois Legault said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. The number of active forest fires in the province dropped to 132 from about 150, according to the website of a Quebec organization that tracks fire activity. Most are still blazing out of control in remote areas; about 13,500 people are under evacuation orders.
Biden: US Will ‘Respond Promptly’ to Aid Requests (2:45 p.m.)
President Joe Biden said Thursday the US would “respond promptly” to any Canadian requests for firefighters and air tankers.
“Since May, more than 600 US firefighters, support personnel, and firefighting assets have been deployed, working alongside Canadian firefighters to tackle what is likely to be the worst fire season in Canadian history, and one that has huge impacts here in the United States,” Biden said in a statement.
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