Air Quality Alert Issued For NYC: What To Know

NEW YORK CITY — Expect hazy skies and poor air quality on Wednesday in New York City, due to smoke from a wildfire in Canada, state health officials say.

Air quality alerts have been issued in all five boroughs and are in effect until midnight, according to the National Weather Service.

New Yorkers who are sensitive to air quality, like people with asthma, young children, and older adults, will want to avoid spending a lot of time outside or doing strenuous activities outdoors.

"With summer almost here, New Yorkers should make plans to stay cool and safe, and sensitive groups should take steps to especially avoid potential health issues from high temperatures, humidity, and air quality," Governor Kathy Hochul said.

"I encourage everyone to be prepared for periods of warmer weather, including making a preparedness plan and knowing the location of local cooling centers."

To reduce the amount of particulate matter in the air, New York's Department of Environmental Conservation recommends using mass transit instead of driving, turning off all unused electrical appliances, and cutting back on any outdoor burning, like smoking or grilling. You can check the current air quality by visiting AirNow.gov.

Thursday will also be a hot day, with a high of 89 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

A scattered rainstorm will move in on Friday, cooling the city off and bringing the high down to 68 degrees on Saturday.

Here is the latest weather forecast from the National Weather Service.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 89. West wind around 6 mph.

Thursday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then a chance of showers after 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. East wind 3 to 5 mph.

Friday night: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. East wind 3 to 5 mph.

Saturday: Showers likely, mainly between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 62.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.

Sunday night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 63.

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