Smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to filter into the Northeast, prompting an air quality alert for the entire tri-state area.
The smoke is coming from wildfires burning primarily in Ontario. The combination of high pressure over the Central U.S. and low pressure over Eastern Canada will funnel the smoke over the Great Lakes into the Northeast.
Wednesday’s smoke concentrations were up from Tuesday’s. The air quality index for midtown Manhattan at 1 p.m. Wednesday topped 150, putting it in the “unhealthy” range. Many people reported eye irritation and the smell of smoke in the air.
High levels of fine particulate matter in the air from wildfire smoke may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as children and people with heart or lung conditions. The particulates can cause shortness of breath, coughing, dizziness or fatigue and aggravate heart and lung diseases and other chronic health issues.
The diminished air quality, in addition to the ongoing heat advisory, makes being outside unadvisable. Stay indoors, preferably in an air conditioned space, to avoid the impacts of being outside.
“If you are feeling any effects from this, I would advise you to stay indoors. And again, the best way to handle the heat, is to do the same,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.
The city’s Office of Emergency Management said there would be free KN-95 masks available to all at NYPD precincts and public library branches throughout the five boroughs. There would also be masks available at the following FDNY firehouses:
- Bronx: 720 Melrose Avenue
- Bronx: 2417 Webster Avenue
- Brooklyn: 172 Tillary Street
- Brooklyn: 885 Howard Avenue
- Manhattan: 100 Duane Street
- Manhattan: 207 W 77th Street
- Queens: 91-45 121st Street
- Queens: 108-01 Horace Harding Expy
- Staten Island: 1850 Clove Road
Experts suggest wearing a N95 mask if you have to be outside and keeping your indoor air cleaner by closing windows and running an air purifier or air conditioner.
Many people remember the extreme wildfire smoke that blanketed the tri-state area on July 7, 2023. A deep orange haze engulfed New York City, the Northeast and extended west to Minnesota. On that day, the AQI in NYC peaked at 416, well into the “hazardous” zone.
The current smoke will become more concentrated through Thursday morning, then remain at steady concentrations through Friday. Plan for air quality alerts through Friday at least.
See below for what conditions will be like Thursday morning, evening and Friday morning as the smoke lingers:
Thursday morning
Thursday 5 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m.
The smoke comes amid a quick heat spell for the NYC area, with temperatures topping 90 degrees combining with high humidity to make it feel 100 degrees.
While a heat advisory from the National Weather Service expired Wednesday evening, the city said it would be extending a heat emergency through Thursday, according to the OEM. That means pools will remain open until 8:30 p.m., 21 cooling vans will be deployed again, and outreach teams will be contacting homeless New Yorkers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
