Health & Fitness

How To Check Your Air Quality In Basking Ridge

Smoke from wildfires in eastern Canada is lingering above several states on the East Coast this week.

While the sky is more blue on Thursday, a haze remains in the air in Somerset County.
While the sky is more blue on Thursday, a haze remains in the air in Somerset County. (Alexis Tarrazi/Patch)

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The air is listed as unhealthy in Basking Ridge on Thursday, and officials warn children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions to stay indoors.

Smoke from wildfires in eastern Canada is lingering above several states on the East Coast this week.

And, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a Code Red Air Quality Action Day for fine particulates, until midnight Thursday night.

Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

With the amount of smoke and air pollution in the atmosphere on Thursday, it will be difficult for some sensitive groups (children, the elderly, people with breathing conditions) to do normal activities outside. And, even those adults without lung conditions may feel irritation in their eyes, nose, and throat.

AirNow.gov, which reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), shows Basking Ridge is "Very Unhealthy" at 244 out of 400 as of 9 a.m.

Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Screenshot of Basking Ridge's AQI, according to AirNow.gov.

The AQI measures as follows:

  • Good/green: 0-50
  • Moderate/yellow: 51-100
  • Unhealthy for sensitive groups/orange: 101-150
  • Unhealthy/red: 151-200
  • Very unhealthy/purple: 201-300
  • Hazardous/dark purple: 301-500

On Wednesday, Bernards Township sent out a warning to residents about the air quality level. Read More: Wildfire Smoke Prompts Air Quality Warning By Bernards Township

Here's a look at the air quality in each New Jersey county at noon Wednesday according to AirNow.gov.

  • Atlantic: 176
  • Bergen: 158
  • Burlington: 169
  • Camden: 169
  • Cape May: 176
  • Cumberland: 174
  • Essex: 175
  • Gloucester: 167
  • Hudson: 175
  • Hunterdon: 169
  • Mercer: 166
  • Middlesex: 166
  • Monmouth: 164
  • Morris: 169
  • Ocean: 164
  • Passaic: 175
  • Salem: 169
  • Somerset: 169
  • Sussex: 169
  • Union: 175
  • Warren: 169

Related articles:

When Will Smoke Clear In NJ? What To Expect

Code Red Issued: How To Stay Safe In NJ’s Wildfire Haze

AirNow partners with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Park Service, NASA, Centers for Disease Control, and tribal, state, and local air quality agencies.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.