Canadian Wildfire Smoke Worsens New York's Air Quality

UPDATE: Air Quality Alert Expanded To Long Island, Hudson Valley

NEW YORK — Unlike most of New York, Long Island and the Hudson Valley were not under air quality alerts Wednesday morning though smoke from Canadian wildfires reached downstate again.

It's been almost three weeks since smoke blowing south from the wildfires raging in Quebec brought downstate New York its worst air quality in decades.

State health and environmental officials on Tuesday issued Air Quality health advisories for Wednesday for the Eastern Lake Ontario, Central, and Western regions.

Current air quality:

Although forecast uncertainty remains, New Yorkers should be prepared for elevated levels of fine particulate pollution caused by smoke on Wednesday and Thursday. Current projections show the highest concentrations of smoke will slowly push east across the eastern half of New York State during the day Thursday, extending across much of the state.

According to the Canadian portal for information about wildland fire weather, which gives interactive forecasts of hourly, daily average and daily maximum concentrations of PM 2.5 smoke particles at ground level from wildfires, smoke has thickened over New York.

Currently:

There were 330 wildfires burning in Canada as of June 21, down just slightly from June 7, in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, according to the country's National Wildland Fire Situation Report.

All the new fires that started in the week ending June 21 were attributed to lightning. The frequency, extent and severity of wildfires are indicators of climate change, environmental officials say.

While Air Quality Index levels are forecast to range from 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' to 'Unhealthy' for all, they advised New Yorkers there may be short periods of time where the Air Quality Index temporarily worsens and reaches the 'Very Unhealthy' or 'Hazardous' levels.

Exposure can cause short-term health effects, such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Additional information is available on DEC and on DOH websites.

If the air quality decreases, it is recommended that residents close their windows, operate their air conditioners, reduce strenuous outdoor activities and that all residents, particularly vulnerable individuals such as young children, pregnant women, and those with respiratory conditions or heart disease, limit their time outdoors, health officials said.

NY Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to alert affected communities via the Wireless Emergency Alert System in the event 'Very Unhealthy' or 'Hazardous' levels are reached. Additionally, transportation agencies and authorities have been directed to provide warnings on public transportation and on Variable Message Signs along roadways.

Once again, N95-style masks will be available to New Yorkers statewide. They are being offered to counties at state-run stockpiles for further distribution to the public.

Meanwhile, the chance for showers and thunderstorms returns again this weekend into next week. The primary threat with any thunderstorms will be heavy rain. Isolated flash flooding is possible should storms repeatedly track over the same area, the National Weather Service said.

The biggest chance for sun this week is Friday, which also happens to be the worst travel day for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Here's the 6-day forecast from the NWS based on northern Westchester:

• Wednesday - Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of showers this morning. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Humid with highs in the upper 70s. Light and variable winds, becoming southwest around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
• Tonight - Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 60s. Northwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
• Thursday - Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.
• Thursday Night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.
• Friday - Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Friday Night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s.
• Saturday - Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain 50 percent.
• Saturday Night - Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Chance of rain 60 percent.
• Sunday - Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain 60 percent.
• Sunday Night - Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the upper 60s. Chance of rain 60 percent.
• Monday - Partly sunny. A chance of showers in the morning, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
• Monday Night - Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Here's the next 48 hours at a glance:

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