An air quality alert has been issued for parts of the New York City metro area Thursday, July 16, as fine particulate pollution from Canadian wildfire smoke continues to affect the region, according to the National Weather Service in Upton.
The alert is in effect until midnight for Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester counties, as well as Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens.
What are forecasters saying about New York air quality?
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued the Air Quality Health Advisory after forecasting Air Quality Index (AQI) levels above 100 because of elevated fine particulate matter in the air.
An AQI above 100 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, older adults, and people with asthma, heart disease or other respiratory conditions.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported the Lower Hudson Valley’s AQI at 71 as of 6:45 a.m. Thursday, indicating moderate air quality. New York City’s AQI was 110, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
State health officials recommend limiting strenuous outdoor activity and wearing a well-fitting N95 mask if exposure to wildfire smoke cannot be avoided. Anyone experiencing breathing problems or worsening symptoms should contact a health care provider.
Why is New York’s air quality being affected?
The advisory is for fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which is being carried south by wind patterns from more than 830 wildfires burning in Ontario, Canada, and parts of Minnesota.
Smoke has created hazy skies across parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic since Wednesday, July 15. Patchy smoke and reduced air quality could continue through Saturday.
National Weather Service meteorologists said conditions in New York City are not expected to be as severe as in 2023, when thousands of wildfires in Ontario and Quebec caused some of the worst air quality levels ever recorded in parts of the region.
Wildfire smoke particles can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and worsen heart and lung conditions. Children, older adults, pregnant people and those with heart or respiratory illnesses are among those most vulnerable.
How to protect yourself from poor air quality
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends limiting time outdoors when the AQI exceeds 100, especially for people in sensitive groups.
Additional steps to reduce exposure include:
What the Air Quality Index means
The AQI measures air pollution on a scale from 0 to 500. Higher numbers indicate greater health risks.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY air quality alert today: Wildfire smoke affects NYC, Hudson Valley as AQI rises
Reporting by Alexandra Rivera, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alexandra Rivera, New York Connect Team | USA TODAY Network
