Wildfire smoke is encroaching on the New York City skyline and turning the once-vibrant city into a hazy island.
The menacing orange cloud first entered all five boroughs on Tuesday and has since settled, bringing the city’s air quality to its lowest point ever.
A health warning was issued to residents urging them to stay inside and restrict any outdoor activities that are not “absolutely necessities.”
On Wednesday afternoon, the city’s Air Quality Index soared to an incredible 353, well above the peak of 218 from the day before.
More than 150 forest fires, the majority of which have been judged out of control, are burning in Quebec, Canada, and are the source of the smoke.
Tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes due to fires in Canada.
