The New York State Department of Encironmental Conservation has posted an Air Quality Alert for Western New York and much of the state as smoke from ongoing Canadian wildfires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba will be ushered into the Great Lakes regions, causing a hazy sky and air quality alerts in the thickest smoke.
The same front that will spark severe thunderstorms into early week will steer the smoke farther east into portions of the Northeast by the beginning of the week.
NYS DEC Air Quality Forecast
AirNow.gov
The thickest smoke is expected to be concentrated from upstate New York through western Maine and into parts of Canada. In this zone, air quality can be reduced, resulting in potentially hazardous conditions for susceptible populations such as the elderly and those with respiratory ailments.
Individuals are encouraged to avoid spending large amounts of time outside and take breaks often.
Haze can be noticeable in the sky elsewhere across the Northeast, reaching as far south as Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Smoke in the atmosphere can enhance sunrises and sunsets, providing more vibrant colors.
AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at
Albany has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for Fine
Particulates until midnight EDT tonight.
Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than
an Air Quality Index value of 100 for Fine Particulates. The Air
Quality Index...or AQI...was created as an easy way to correlate
levels of different pollutants to one scale. The higher the AQI
value...the greater the health concern.
When pollution levels are elevated...the New York State Department
of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous
outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health
effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of
elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with
pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease.
Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal
physician.
For additional information, please visit the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation website at,
https://on.ny.gov/nyaqi, or call the Air Quality Hotline at
1 800 5 3 5, 1 3 4 5.
Related
