Weather
NYC Under 'Unhealthy' Air Quality Alert From Canadian Wildfire Smoke
Don't go outside if you're sensitive to pollution, forecasters say. Seriously.
NEW YORK CITY — New York City's hazy skies Tuesday could be hazardous for your health. Really.
The city is under an air quality alert until midnight as thick smoke from wildfires in Canada drifts down the East Coast, according to the National Weather Service.
The air quality index is well above 100, putting it officially into an "unhealthy" level, AccuWeather reported.
Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
New Yorkers are recommended to limit strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.
"People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, and those with preexisting respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease," the National Weather Service alert states.
Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
This is the second time in as many weeks that Canadian wildfire smoke has clouded New York City's skies.
But the smoke Tuesday looks to be significantly thicker than last week.
New Yorkers woke to find familiar landmarks such as the Empire State Building enveloped in an eerie orange haze, AccuWeather reported.
The haze and smoke comes from more than 160 forest fires burning in Quebec, forecasters said.
An even-thicker area of smoke is expected to drift into the city from Upstate late Tuesday afternoon and into the evening, forecasters said.
The smoke and haze is easier to see in this loop... pic.twitter.com/3QJBn2x25U
— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) June 6, 2023
Canada is on track for one of its worst fire seasons, officials said. The Quebec fires were so bad that officials sought out international help to fight them, as firefighters in other Canadian provinces had their hands full battling blazes on their own turf.
New York City's forecast Tuesday afternoon and evening calls for widespread haze and areas of smoke, according to the National Weather Service.
Smoke is not in Wednesday's forecast. But AccuWeather reported that unhealthy air quality is expected to linger until at least Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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