Hazardous Weather Outlook, Air Quality Alert Issued For Southern CT

SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT — An air quality alert, coastal flood advisory and a hazardous weather outlook have all been issued for portions of southern Connecticut.

An air quality alert has been issued for all of southern Connecticut from midnight to midnight Tuesday. "An Air Quality Action Day means that Fine Particulates within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards," the National Weather Service said.

"An increased risk for fine particulates from smoke caused by increased wildfire activity in eastern Canada has prompted @CTDEEPNews @RhodeIslandDEM & @MassDEP to issue Air Quality Alerts for Tuesday for all of CT, RI & MA," the weather service added.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is expecting smoke from wildfires over Quebec to elevate fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels beginning after 9 p.m. on Monday, June 5.

“These levels are expected to exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for an extended period during the overnight period in Western Connecticut and covering the entire State by daybreak,” officials wrote in a news release.

Health Effects of PM 2.5 Air Pollution

When air quality is forecasted to be USG, there is an “increased likelihood that individuals in sensitive groups will develop respiratory symptoms, that aggravation of heart or lung disease could occur, and persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly could experience premature mortality,” according to the news release.

“Children and people with asthma or other lung disease are most at risk for experiencing these symptoms,” the news release states. “Active children and adults, and people with impaired lung function or cardiovascular disease, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. If you can smell smoke in the air, then levels are probably high enough to affect sensitive individuals.”

Southern Fairfield-Southern New Haven

A coastal flood advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. Tuesday. "One to two feet of inundation above ground level expected in vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline....Minor flooding is expected in the more vulnerable locations near the waterfront and shoreline. Some roads and low lying properties including parking lots, parks, lawns, and homes and businesses with basements near the waterfront will experience minor flooding."

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Extended forecast details for southern Connecticut via the weather service:

Tuesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Widespread haze. Patchy smoke. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 8 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind 9 to 11 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind 6 to 8 mph.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.

Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72.