Nova Scotia Wildfire Smoke Spreads to US, Prompting Air Quality Alerts

Thick plumes of heavy smoke fill the Halifax sky as an out-of-control fire in a suburban community quickly spread, engulfing multiple homes and forcing the evacuation of local residents on May 28, 2023. Kelly Clark/The Canadian Press

Smoke from the raging wildfires in Nova Scotia, Canada, is spreading hundreds of miles to the United States and impacting cities across the northeast, according to meteorologists.

Roughly 16,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in areas surrounding Nova Scotia’s capital city, Halifax, amid strong winds that have caused local wildfires to spread rapidly and damaged multiple buildings and homes, according to the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.

The fires, which come as the Canadian region experiences record-breaking hot and dry weather, span more than 25,000 acres of land, according to reports, and have been deemed “out of control” by officials.

As the wildfires continue to rage, a plume of smoke was expected to drift over New York City on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), which warned it could lead to decreased air quality.

“At these concentrations, air quality could be impacted for a period of time,” NWS said.

The smoke subsequently made Tuesday’s sunrise in New York City hazier than normal, according to meteorologists who noted that smoke is far above the surface and will not cause breathing issues.

In a separate Twitter post late Tuesday, NWS said that “patchy low-level smoke” from the wildfires will continue to linger over the city on Wednesday.

Hazy Skies in New York

The plume was expected to dissolve and move north out of the tri-state area by Wednesday evening, according to Fox Weather senior producer and meteorologist Greg Diamond.

“The main thing you’ll notice is the sky—the skies will be milky, they’ll be a little hazy,” Diamond told the New York Post. “And occasionally, when that smoke is allowed to get down to the ground, it may smell like a campfire.”

Diamond noted that while most people would not be affected by the smoke, those with conditions such as asthma, heart disease, or other lung diseases may be impacted.

“We’ll never get to dangerous levels of the air quality,” Diamond said. “But those who are sensitive should probably avoid being outdoors for a long period of time, especially if they noticed that smoke is in the air.”

The smoke also made its way over Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on Tuesday morning before spreading along parts of New England, according to NWS Boston.

“We expect this smoke to spread north and west by this afternoon as winds shift to the southeast,” meteorologists said. “Those with a sensitive nose may be able to smell the smoke as it pushes through the region.”

In another update later on Tuesday, NWS Boston said the wildfire smoke from Nova Scotia was still visible across Connecticut, central Massachusetts, and up into the Merrimack Valley.

Fires ‘Out of Control’

Air quality concerns were also raised as far as New Jersey, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, CBS News reported.

The fires initially began on Sunday near Upper Tantallon, a suburban community outside of Halifax, and have since destroyed or damaged dozens of homes, although there have been no reports of deaths, injuries, or missing persons so far, The Associated Press reported.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 13 fires were burning, three of which were “out of control,” according to Scott Tingley, manager of forest protection for the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.

Firefighters are working around the clock to put the fires out.

Officials on Monday announced a provincewide burn ban which will remain in place until June 25 unless the province determines it can be lifted sooner, owing to the “seriousness of the current fires.”

Anyone who contravenes the ban can be subject to prosecution under the Forest Act, officials said.

In a Twitter post on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the wildfire situation in Nova Scotia “incredibly serious” and said his government is ready to provide any federal support and assistance if needed.

“We’re keeping everyone affected in our thoughts, and we’re thanking those who are working hard to keep people safe,” Trudeau said.