Pollution levels in the city were elevated as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted south across a huge swathe of the US The sun shone feebly through the thick haze. The smell of burning wood hung thick in the air. Many New Yorkers donned masks as the air quality plummeted amid health warnings.
Source: [Guardian International](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/17/new-york-poor-air-quality-wildfire)