Poor Air Quality In 13 NJ Counties Wednesday: Here's Why

NEW JERSEY — Smoke from Canadian wildfires is impacting New Jersey Wednesday, causing hazy skies and poor air quality.

Air quality alerts have been issued in Gloucester, Camden, northwestern Burlington, Middlesex, Mercer, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Union counties from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Residents who are sensitive to air quality, like people with asthma, young children and seniors, will want to avoid spending a lot of time outside or doing strenuous activities outdoors. You can check the current air quality by visiting AirNow.gov.

Wednesday will also be dry and warm, with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s in most spots and in the 70s along the coast, National Weather Service forecasters said.

Temperatures will continue to build, and could reach the 90s on Thursday, forecasters predict.

This will coincide with storms coming. Later in the day Thursday, isolated to scattered showers could form, possibly a thunderstorm, mainly across northwestern Jersey, according to the National Weather Service.

More rain is expected Friday, with the potential for a heavy shower or downpour.

And even more is in store for Saturday, forecasters say, with "potential for thunderstorms and brief heavy downpours." There could also be a few isolated strong storms.

Sunday will likely be dry, but more rain is expected next week.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Friday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.

Central Jersey

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87. South wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Friday: A chance of showers, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

South Jersey

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: A chance of showers, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: Showers likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81.