Smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to blanket New York, giving parts of the state some of the worst air quality in the country Thursday.
For the second straight day, hazy skies and the smell of smoke lingered across much of New York. While skies appeared somewhat clearer than Wednesday’s orange-tinted haze, air quality remained dangerous in parts of New York.
According to live Air Quality Index (AQI) data from IQAir, Niagara Falls had the worst air quality in New York Thursday, with several other western New York communities also reporting hazardous or very unhealthy conditions.
An Air Quality Health Advisory remains in effect for much of New York through midnight Thursday.
Which New York cities have the worst air quality right now?
The following communities had the highest AQI readings in New York as of 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 16, according to IQAir.
(NOTE: AQI values can change rapidly throughout the day, so these numbers will fluctuate throughout the air quality event.)
Notably, 10 of the 15 highest AQI readings were in western New York, with several communities in Erie, Niagara and Monroe counties reporting very unhealthy or hazardous conditions.
Why is New York’s air quality so poor?
Smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning across Canada continues to drift into the Northeast.
The smoke contains PM2.5, tiny airborne particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream. High concentrations reduce visibility, create hazy skies and can worsen asthma, heart disease and other respiratory conditions.
The National Weather Service forecasts AQI values above 260 for fine particulate pollution in parts of western and central New York, including Rochester, Newark, Oswego and Watertown.
How does New York compare with the rest of the U.S.?
New York has some of the nation’s worst air quality Thursday, though several Midwestern cities reported even higher AQI readings.
As of Thursday morning, the nation’s highest AQI readings were:
What do AQI numbers mean?
The Air Quality Index (AQI) measures how clean or polluted the air is and the potential health risk.
What is PM2.5?
PM2.5 refers to microscopic particles measuring 2.5 microns or smaller—about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair.
These particles are small enough to travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Short-term exposure can trigger asthma attacks, breathing problems and cardiovascular issues, while long-term exposure has been linked to increased risks of heart disease and reduced life expectancy, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Contributing: USA Today Network
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Which NY cities have the worst air quality right now? See today’s AQI rankings
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team | USA TODAY Network
