LI Air Quality Health Advisory To Continue Through Wednesday: DEC

LONG ISLAND, NY — Bleak and gray skies will linger on Long Island.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality health advisory, continuing through Wednesday for Long Island and the Metropolitan New York City Region.

The pollutant of concern is fine particulate matter also known as PM 2.5.

The health advisory comes after surface smoke concentration traveled from eastern Canadian wildfires earlier this week.

"AccuWeather forecasters say a dip in the jet stream will send smoke pouring southward out of Canada and into the northern and eastern U.S. for much of this week," said Mary Gilbert, AccuWeather meteorologist. "Smoke will spread over much of the Great Lakes and portions of the interior Northeast while hazy conditions will be even more wide-reaching.

Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott advises that all residents, especially young children, seniors, those who exercise outdoors, and those with pre-existing respiratory or heart problems, limit strenuous outdoor activity.

Ozone levels are often elevated after noon through early evening on hot, sunny days. If you experience eye, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath, or chest pain, contact your medical provider.

Information about ozone and health is available on the New York State Department of Health website.