“Today” show news anchor Al Roker showed the impact of the Canadian wildfires in New York City.
On Wednesday, Roker recorded a video of the yellowish haze from his airplane window.
In the video, posted on his Instagram page, Roker explained how bad the weather conditions were.
“It is so hazy that I’m waiting to take off on a flight to Washington, D.C.,” he said. “They are stretching out the landings and takeoffs and we’re still delayed and fifteenth for takeoff all because of the smoke that’s out there.”
As the video zoomed in, Roker uttered, “Yikes!”
“This smoke and haze is (sic) for real out here at [ LaGuardia Airport] delaying takeoffs and landings!” he continued in the caption.
As smoke continues to spread across the northeastern United States, the Federal Aviation Administration delayed flights going into New York and Newark, New Jersey. Flights bound for Philadelphia International Airport and New York’s LaGuardia Airport were paused due to the lack of visibility, according to CNN.
Delays are expected to continue going in and out of LaGuardia until late Thursday night.
On Wednesday morning, the city of Syracuse, New York, reportedly had an AQI (air quality index) of over 400, which is considered “hazardous” and “unhealthy.”
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New York is facing the worst air quality its had in 38 years, the FOX Forecast Center confirmed via Fox Weather.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the AQI was over 200, according to Fox Weather, which was considered “very unhealthy,” per the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
On Tuesday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an air quality health advisory to fellow New Yorkers who are near the dangerous weather conditions.
“When many New Yorkers walked outside today, the hazy skies caused by wildfire smoke were hard to miss. New York State experts are monitoring our air quality every day to ensure New Yorkers have the latest information about current air quality in their communities and what they can do to protect themselves,” she said.
Hochul added, “I encourage New Yorkers, especially those sensitive to air quality, to take appropriate steps to help limit risk of exposure.”