New York State Air Quality Advisory Remains in Effect Due to Canadian Wildfire Smoke

An air quality health advisory remains in effect across New York State as smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada drifts southward. Newsweek reported that the smoke has blanketed parts of the state in haze and raised concentrations of fine particulate pollution.

The National Weather Service warned that the smoky conditions coincide with a heat wave pushing temperatures close to 100°F and heat index values above 100 in parts of the New York City region.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health expanded advisories statewide, with the greatest impacts forecast in Western New York, Central New York and the Eastern Lake Ontario region. New York City, Long Island, the Lower Hudson Valley and other downstate areas are forecast to experience conditions unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Some upstate regions have reached the unhealthy category, and New York City Emergency Management predicts air quality readings could reach an Air Quality Index around 200 through Thursday.

Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can trigger coughing, dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath while worsening asthma, heart disease and other chronic conditions, forecasters and health officials said. The National Weather Service and public health officials advised residents to reduce or eliminate outdoor activities, keep windows and doors closed, run air conditioning or air purifiers, and wear an N95 or KN95 mask if outdoors.

New York City has activated an extensive response to the combined heat and smoke emergency.

The city's heat emergency plan has been extended with hundreds of cooling centers remaining open across the five boroughs, and the city has expanded distribution of free KN95 masks at public library branches and transit stations. City agencies have moved activities indoors, rescheduled events and modified programming.