The air quality of several cities in Canada and the United States registered a drop due to the wildfires raging in the east of the former country.

This has caused the smoke to move and create a haze in iconic places like New York, where authorities have urged residents to avoid outdoor activities.

On Tuesday, the Canadian Weather Service placed Ottawa at the bottom of its sky scale and warned to stay indoors as much as possible. Toronto, the most populous in the country, was blanketed all day in a layer of smoke that obscured the sun’s rays, while a burning smell permeated the entire city.

Canada is facing more than 400 active wildfires

The same scenes were repeated in Montreal and Quebec City.

The effects of the fires extend beyond Canadian borders and the smoke also hit points in the United States such as New York on Tuesday.

The smoke covering much of Canada is a result of the country’s more than 400 active fires, some 150 of which are in Quebec, a number much higher than normal for this time of year.

In the case of New York, an orange haze loomed over the city, prompting health officials to advise residents to avoid outdoor activities on Wednesday.

For Mayor Eric Adams, this level was unprecedented. The United States Environmental Protection Agency noted that cloudy skies, reduced visibility, and the smell of burning wood are likely.

CNN indicated that several metropolitan areas of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut recorded high air quality, making it unhealthy. Philadelphia, on the other hand, registered a very unhealthy quality.