Wildfire smoke keeps spreading across states. Now the air is hazardous

If you step outside this morning and the sky looks hazy or the sun has an orange tint, you're not imagining it

Wildfire smoke from Canada is spreading across the eastern half of the country, and for millions of people, today could be the worst of it

From New York City to Chicago, which you're looking at, people are masking up as thick smoke from Canadian wildfires pushes air quality to unhealthy and in some places, hazardous levels

I was a bit surprised. I live down in Miami, so we don't really get that much wildfires happening

And it's a bit overwhelming. I had to run to the store and buy myself a mask and a emergency inhaler, and I was not expecting this

The smoke, as you see here, is pouring south from hundreds of active fires burning across Ontario and British Columbia

where crews continue to battle large out-of-control wildfires. The smoke has also turned skies hazy across the Midwest and Northeast and triggering air quality alerts from the Great Lakes to New England

Come out the subway, chest started to give me some issues, nose was burning, I can taste it

So I'm just sitting here like, wow, I really need a mask. One pilot flying near Thunder Bay, Ontario, thought he was looking at a line of thunderstorms

Until he got closer and realized the massive plume below was smoke pouring from active wildfires

In fact, some pilots are now reporting ash buildup on their plane's windshield while they are flying

Health officials are urging people, especially children, older adults, and those with heart or lung conditions to limit time outdoors if they can

Forecasters say conditions should start to improve across parts of the Northeast later today

though smoke could linger into the weekend in some areas as new plumes continue to drift south