A monstrous cloud of smoke, originating from the wildfires in Quebec, has wreaked havoc in the northeastern United States. As a result, more than 75 million people in the region are under air quality alerts, forcing children to stay indoors and grounding flights in New York City. The smoke has enveloped iconic skylines, shrouding them in wafting orange fumes and causing visibility to vanish. The situation is expected to worsen as the heaviest smoke is projected to hit the Northeast, spanning from the mid-Atlantic down to the Carolinas. Air quality indexes in major metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia, Jersey City, and New Haven have reached dangerously high levels, classified as "very unhealthy" by AirNow.gov. New York City, in particular, recorded its highest level of air pollution since the 1960s, with an AQI of 484, placing it in the "hazardous" category. @KellyrKopp captured a video showing the smoke cloud over New York City near George Washington Bridge on 7th June, 2023.

The unprecedented levels of smoke have created a health crisis, with millions of residents at risk of breathing in unhealthy air. Authorities have urged people to remain indoors and take precautions to minimize exposure. Schools have enforced indoor recesses to protect children from the hazardous conditions outside. Flights have been grounded in New York City due to poor visibility caused by the smoke, causing disruptions in travel plans for many.

The smoke conditions are expected to persist at least until Thursday, as the wildfires in Quebec continue to rage.