Smell smoke? Nova Scotia wildfires responsible for widespread haze across tri-state area

Although there are no wildfires nearby, some residents in the eastern Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and Long Island are reporting a smoky smell from the Nova Scotia fires.

Alex Calamia

May 31, 2023, 12:56 AM

Updated 501 days ago

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Out-of-control wildfires in Nova Scotia on Tuesday evening are responsible for a widespread haze across the tri-state area. 
More than 200 homes have been destroyed in Nova Scotia and there are reports that more than 16,000 people have been evacuated. 
The plume of smoke has traveled more than 500 miles and is moving over the tri-state area. Although there are no wildfires nearby, some residents in the eastern Hudson Valley, Connecticut and Long Island are reporting a smoky smell from the Nova Scotia fires. Air quality in some parts of the area has been reduced to "unhealthy" levels. This can result in symptoms like shortness of breath, particularly for those who are sensitive to air pollution. 
Hazy skies from the Canadian fires will persist into Wednesday, potentially reducing air quality once again. Winds will shift on Thursday and push smoke and haze out of the region, bringing near-record-warm temperatures instead for the tri-state by Friday.