Periods of smoky conditions are likely to persist through at least late tonight night, as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to impact the region, the National Weather Service in Upton said in an advisory early this morning.
An air quality health advisory is in effect for the Long Island and New York City Metro regions, including eastern Suffolk County, through midnight.
The Air Quality Index is expected to reach 195 in the Long Island region and 200 in the New York City region today, due to pollution from fine particulates (PM 2.5). An AQI of 151 to 200 is considered unhealthy for all groups. At these levels, some members of the general public may experience health effects, and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
A well-defined plume of smoke has been extending across the northern Great Lakes into New York, southern New England and the Mid-Atlantic states, along a weak cold front, the weather service said. Smoke could thicken across the tri-state region today and tonight, reducing visibility to less than 5 miles at times, according to forecasters.
While some improvement is possible early this morning as the densest smoke shifts south, the weather service said another concentrated plume is expected to spread back over the region later today and tonight, potentially bringing widespread reduced visibility, the weather service said. Smoke is forecast to linger into Friday morning.
Otherwise, hot and humid conditions are expected, with temperatures reaching into the low 90s, but it will remain below advisory criteria.
When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. Those most sensitive include young children, older adults and people with preexisting respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease. Anyone experiencing symptoms should consider consulting a physician.
More information is available at the NYSDEC’s air quality index page, or by calling the state air quality hotline at 1-800-535-1345.
Current air quality readings are available at AirNow.gov.
Monitor smoke and fires at AirNow’s Fire and Smoke Map.
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