NJ closes offices early Wednesday due to poor air quality

As smoke from Canadian wildfires thickened Wednesday afternoon, New Jersey state workers were sent home early.

The air conditions also delayed flights, canceled many events and at least one major school district is keeping everyone home Thursday.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced on social media that all state offices were closed at 3:30 p.m. due to "worsening air quality conditions."

Murphy urged everyone to reduce time spent outdoors.

Elizabeth Public Schools have also announced they will be closed on Thursday due to poor air quality.

In South Brunswick, the public library closed mid-afternoon.

Smoke in Lakewood (The Lakewood Scoop)

The Jersey Shore BlueClaws are allowing fans with concerns about the air quality holding tickets for Wednesday night game at ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood to exchange them for another game due to air quality issues.

The Yankees postponed their Wednesday night game against the White Sox and the Phillis canceled their game with Detroit due to poor air quality. Both games will be played Thursday.

Arriving flights were delayed by over an hour at Newark Liberty International Airport and by 30 minutes in Philadelphia, according to FlightAware.com. Departures from LaGuardia were delayed by 30-45 minutes.

New Jersey 101.5 Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow said the smoke from the actual wildfires is shooting way up in the air, then traveling south into the United States and dispersing near the surface over a wide area. The New York City metro area is currently registering the dirtiest air in the entire world.