New York's Air Quality Worst On The Planet Wednesday: Outdoor Activities Canceled, Flights Delayed

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul urged school districts to cancel outdoor activities Wednesday because of poor air quality driven by Canadian wildfires. Hochul noted that several districts had already canceled activities in an effort to keep students safe from the potentially harmful air.

Poor air quality is hazardous, especially so for young children, elderly people and those with asthma or other respiratory problems. Many local officials are urging people in general to limit their time outside. 

How NYC Ranks: The entire skyline of New York City is surrounded by an orange, yellowish glow that looks like it would fit right into a movie about a dystopian future. In fact, according to the IQAir World Air Quality Index, New York City has the worst air quality in the world Wednesday with a rating of 355. The 355 rating is considered "hazardous." 

The next cities with the poorest air quality are Dubai, United Arab Emirates with a 167 air quality index and Lahore, Pakistan at 163. 

Another Use For N95s: Many people in New York City are breaking out their old COVID-19 masks to help them fight the poor air quality. Companies like 3M Co MMM and Alpha Pro Tech APT that produce masks and other protective equipment could benefit if the wildfires and smoke persist. 

Flight Delays: The smoke has gotten so bad that airports in New York are delaying or canceling flights because of poor visibility. According to flight-tracking site Flight Aware, more than 1,600 flights have been delayed from LaGuardia and other area airports.

Airline stocks were largely unaffected by the delays and cancellations, with the US Global Jets ETF JETS trading up slightly Wednesday afternoon. 

What's Next: Other cities and states are affected by the smoky air, including Detroit, Michigan and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

While it’s unclear exactly how long the smoke will impact air quality, some experts believe that it could take a while. The Weather Channel’s Stephanie Abrams told viewers to expect smoke to remain through at least Saturday.

Photo via Shutterstock.