Traffic is light and trains are less crowded than usual as many companies in the city ask employees to work from home. Some non-essential city services have been suspended, including parks and recreation, road construction and waste collection.

The Washington Nationals baseball team postponed a home game, while the National Zoo closed for the day. The US administration postponed Pride Month, which was supposed to be the largest LGBTQ+ celebration in White House history.

This is the worst wildfire smoke to blanket the northeastern United States in more than 20 years, according to forecasting service AccuWeather.

The National Weather Service has extended air quality warnings from New England to South Carolina, as well as parts of the Midwest, including Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Smoke has reached as far as Norway as of Thursday, scientists said.

Millions of Americans have been advised to stay indoors if possible to avoid respiratory problems and other health issues that can arise from high levels of fine particles in the atmosphere.

Government data showed air quality readings above "hazardous" levels in Washington on Thursday morning.

“This issue is likely to continue or worsen through Friday,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a tweet. “We urge residents and visitors to follow precautions.”

Trung Kien (according to Reuters)