Incredible timelapse captures hazy glow of NYC skyline as Canadian wildfire smoke pours south

Incredible timelapse captures hazy glow of NYC skyline as Canadian wildfire smoke pours south

Surreal video captures wildfire smoke overtaking the Big Apple skyline on Wednesday — as officials warn New Yorkers to stay indoors due to abysmal air quality.

The timelapse video from Wednesday shows blue skies turning yellow as smoke from Canadian wildfires poured down into the region.

As the sun set, the Big Apple skyline turned an eerie pale orange hue, a livestream from Earthcam shows.

The city skyline seen through the live cam on July 16, 2026. EarthCam
The Brunswick Creek wildfire consumes trees on a mountainside, in Boston Bar, British Columbia, on July 9, 2026. DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press via AP
The New York City skyline and the One World Trade Center from the Edge observation deck through the smoke on July 16, 2026. REUTERS

The hazy skies continued through Thursday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an Air Quality Alert for New York City.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) has been hovering between 151-200 as officials urged residents to stay indoors.

“[The] combination of dangerous heat and unhealthy air is a serious threat to New Yorkers’ health,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on X

“If you can, stay somewhere cool with air conditioning, limit your time outdoors, drink plenty of water, and check on your neighbors — especially older New Yorkers and anyone with a health condition.”

Haze from Canadian wildfires blankets the Statue of Liberty as seen from a Brooklyn pier on July 15, 2026. Getty Images
New York City is under an Air Quality Health Advisory as the Canadian and Great Lakes wildfire smoke gradually moves through the area, creating a thick smog in the heat. Getty Images

To combat the poor air quality, the city is giving away KN95 masks at local libraries and precincts.

The hazy air is hazardous to all residents, but especially those battling respiratory issues like asthma.

The toxic air is also being compounded by a heat advisory.

Cooling centers in New York City have been extended through Thursday as the smoke puts a damper on outdoor activities. Those who have signed up will receive Notify NYC alert notifications about the changing conditions.

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