Do you remember when you looked out your window and saw orange skies all over the Bay Area? Well, New York City is currently experiencing the same phenomenon, but to a much worse extent. On September 9, 2020, people in the Bay Area witnessed an eerie orange sky caused by smog, wildfire smoke, and ash. Fast forward to June 6, 2023, and wildfires in the eastern Canadian provinces of Quebec and Nova Scotia have created a similar unsettling sight for the East Coast.
Now, how do these two events compare? Although the orange and yellow skies seemed foreboding, the air quality in the Bay Area wasn’t extremely bad. It was certainly unhealthy for sensitive groups, and it occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, California’s marine layer played a crucial role in preventing the air quality from reaching “very unhealthy” or “hazardous” levels in the region.
The East Coast, on the other hand, lacks the protection of the marine layer. By Wednesday, New York City’s air quality had already reached hazardous levels. At this stage, the US government site AirNow advised everyone to stay indoors and reduce their activity levels. Normally, the city has an average of 35 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter of air per day. However, on Tuesday morning, that number skyrocketed to 140–160, and by 6 p.m., it climbed to 335. On Wednesday, it peaked at 413.
At one point, New York City had the worst air quality among major cities worldwide, according to IQAir. The smoke and ash began spreading to other parts of the country, providing some relief for New York City residents. Nevertheless, officials still advised people to stay indoors and avoid inhaling the poor air.
Meteorologists expect some rain by the end of the week, which will be ideal for clearing the sky’s orange and yellow hue and improving the air quality by alleviating the smoke issues in the area.