Air quality health advisory issued for Long Island due to wildfire smoke

Updated- 6:05 p.m.: Canadian wildfire smoke is again producing unhealthy air across Long Island and the New York City metro regions.

An air quality health advisory is in effect for Nassau and Suffolk counties until midnight Saturday due to elevated levels of fine particulate pollution, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said.

Forecasters on Friday afternoon extended the air quality health advisory through midnight Saturday.

The air quality index value in Riverhead on Friday morning was 154, which is considered unhealthy for the general population, according to the AirNow.gov website published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is forecast to reach about the same level on Saturday.

Air quality index values exceeded 400 in locations across the island Thursday, as a plume of smoke moved through our area.

AQI values are indexed as follows, according to the EPA:

101 – 150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
151 – 200 Unhealthy
201 – 300 Very Unhealthy
301 + Hazardous

The pollutant of concern is fine particulates (PM 2.5).

Forecast guidance indicates conditions should gradually improve during the day as high pressure builds in, though some patchy smoke could linger near the coast.

The weather service also said smoke could return tonight into Saturday as winds shift, with a fast-moving frontal system expected late Saturday into Saturday night that should push smoke offshore.

State health officials recommend limiting strenuous outdoor activity when pollution levels are elevated, especially for those most sensitive to air pollution, including young children and people with preexisting respiratory conditions such as asthma or heart disease. Anyone experiencing symptoms should consider consulting a physician.

More information is available at https://on.ny.gov/nyaqi or by calling the state air quality hotline at 800-535-1345.