The poor air quality and smoky haze caused by a series of Canadian wildfires forced the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday to issue a another ground stop for flights bound for New York’s LaGuardia airport.
“Reduced visibility from wildfire smoke will continue to impact air travel today,” the FAA tweeted, adding that it has “paused flights destined for LGA from the Northeast, Ohio and Mid-Atlantic.
The FAA on Wednesday issued a similar order for LaGuardia in addition to slowing planes to Newark and Philadelphia due to the smoke limiting visibility.
The agency further warned Thursday that the smoke could impact travel from New York to Charlotte. It lists New York’s three major airports, Philadelphia, the three Washington airports and Charlotte as all having the possibility of a ground stop or delays throughout the day.
As of Thursday morning, U.S. airlines have delayed 743 flights and canceled another 55, according flight-tracking website FlightAware.com. Hardest hit by the apocalyptical haze are New York’s JFK airport and Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey, with 27 and 13 delays respectively.
The smog, and subsequent air traffic, will “probably be hanging around at least for the next few days,” U.S. National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Ramsey said.
“Conditions are likely to remain unhealthy, at least until the wind direction changes or the fires get put out,” Ramsey said. “Since the fires are raging — they’re really large — they’re probably going to continue for weeks. But it’s really just going be all about the wind shift.”
More than 400 blazes are burning across Canada, spreading plumes of smoke across the northeast and beyond. Most states on Thursday are extending their “Code Red” air quality alerts, some of them for a second-straight day, as forecasts show winds continuing to push smoke-filled air south.
In New York, residents have been urged to stay indoors as much as possible.
With News Wire Services
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