When Will The Smoke Clear In NJ? Latest Forecast For Thursday

NEW JERSEY - Hazardous air quality and pollutant exposure continues to threaten the Garden State Thursday as smoke from Canadian wildfires lingers through at least the weekend, officials said.

The highest concentrations of wildfire smoke should wane Thursday morning and into the afternoon across New Jersey, the National Weather Service said, though haze and smoke is expected to become more dense into Thursday evening.

“We're feeling the effects firsthand here in New Jersey,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a tweet Wednesday evening announcing that he spoke with Canadian officials about the scale of the ongoing wildfires up north. “This isn't Blade Runner — it's real life. And it's a direct result of the climate crisis.”

Thursday's Air Quality Index (AQI) levels are expected to be slightly better, but still unhealthy for people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens, said the weather service. The Garden State may not see the conditions clear completely until Friday or Saturday.

As of Thursday morning, all 21 counties are under an air quality alert, with a “Code Orange Air Quality Action Day” in effect, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly and those suffering from asthma or heart disease.

Friday will also be an Air Quality Action Day, said environmental officials.

“All individuals should limit strenuous activities and the amount of time active outdoors especially in the evening hours,” said state environmental officials.

All state air quality monitors, save for one in the Delaware Water Gap, registered "very unhealthy" air over 200 AQI Thursday morning, according to AirNow.gov. The Delaware Water Gap monitor registered 169 AQI, meeting the criteria for "unhealthy" air.

State environmental officials previously issued a "Code Red Air Quality Action Day" across New Jersey on Wednesday, which indicates unhealthy air that may cause more serious health effects for sensitive groups, as well as health effects for some members of the general public. Read more: Code Red Issued: How To Stay Safe In NJ's Wildfire Haze

Exposure to air pollutants from the wildfire, such as particulate matter and ground-level ozone, can cause headaches, irritated eyes and sinuses, fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pains, asthma attacks, irritated throat and increased coughing, the weather service said.

"Poor air quality can be hazardous to anyone, and it can aggravate health problems such as asthma, heart disease, and lung disease," the weather service added. "Seniors, children and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk."

State officials, including Murphy, continue to urge those in sensitive groups to limit outdoor and strenuous activities as air quality worsens in the Garden State. In a statement posted to Twitter Wednesday afternoon, the governor vowed to “continue to do our own part” in preventing future smoke disasters “by pursuing the bold action our climate reality demands.”

“Make no mistake, from the wildfires in Canada to those cropping up with increasing frequency and severity in our own backyard, these extreme weather events are tangible - and devastating - evidence of the intensifying climate crisis,” Murphy said.

Wednesday’s smoke cleared state offices by 3:30 p.m. and moved many outdoor activities inside. Those that couldn’t be moved were canceled, including the Yankees game against the White Sox and the Phillies game against the Detroit Tigers.

Thursday’s lingering smoke has already prompted Elizabeth Public Schools to close for the day; Wayne and West Orange Public Schools will have an early dismissal, according to NJ.com. A single session day without lunch is planned for East Brunswick schools on Thursday.

The frequency, extent and severity of wildfires mark important indicators of climate change, environmental officials say. The peak of the nation’s wildfire season is also occurring earlier — peaking in August from 1984-2001 and then in July from 2002-20, according to research from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

There are approximately 160 wildfires burning across Quebec, part of a wider group of more than 300 fires across the country that some are calling Canada's worst fire season ever.

Quebec's fire prevention agency has said high temperatures and dry conditions have contributed to the raging fire season.

Previous fires in Nova Scotia and Alberta have sent smoke into New Jersey, prompting air quality warnings.

Here's the latest weather forecast for North and South Jersey, per the National Weather Service:

North Jersey

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 5 p.m. Widespread haze. Widespread smoke, mainly before 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. West wind 3 to 8 mph.

Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8 p.m. Widespread haze. Areas of smoke. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: A chance of showers before 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Widespread haze before 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. North wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday 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 57. West wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

South Jersey

Thursday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4 p.m. Widespread haze. Widespread smoke, mainly before 8 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers before 10 p.m. Widespread haze. Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Widespread haze before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

-With reporting by Michelle Rotuno-Johnson.