Smoke from Canadian wildfires will return to the Northeast; Check the air quality near you
State officials are again warning that unhealthy, smoky air from multiple wildfires burning in Canada will drift over New York this week.
Over 100 wildfires are burning throughout Quebec and Ontario. Combined with an upper-level low pressure system over Nova Scotia, Canada is on track to its worst wildfire season on record.
Too soon to tell if there are restrictions ahead of July 4th
New York's air quality index is once again in the unhealthy range as Canadian wildfires continue to burn. The state's air quality advisory has been extended through Friday; It is too soon to tell if there will be restrictions during the July 4th weekend.
Governor Kathy Hochul cautions, "This is the new normal for New Yorkers."
"We need to make sure that people know these numbers. And tomorrow we're expecting to see smoke linger across the state," Hochul said. "It's important for people to stay vigilant."
The numbers she references are the air quality index levels, which Hochul wants people to incorporate checking into their daily routine. Air quality in the 150-200 range means it is unhealthy for everyone; Long Island held below this range on Thursday afternoon.
An emergency phone alert will be sent out if the index exceeds 200 and is sustained for longer than an hour.
Hochul recommends to mask up if you must spend time outdoors.
"Little children should not be out playing when the weather, when the conditions are in these dangerous, hazardous," she said. "Senior citizens, people with asthma, and we have 400,000 children with asthma in our state today: they need to be told this is not the time to be outside riding their bicycles."
New York leverages statewide emergency cell phone alert system
Air quality is expected to take a turn for the worst on Thursday. Governor Kathy Hochul is cautioning New Yorkers to prepare for the potential for temporary spikes in "Very Unhealthy" or "Hazardous" air across the state — and to obtain the tools to stay safe.
New York will deploy for the first-time its use of emergency cell phone alerts, which will be used to warn New Yorkers if air quality index exceeds the 200 threshold for "Very Unhealthy" air and sustained for longer than an hour. The alerts will be transmitted via the Wireless Emergency Alert system, managed by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.
"We're activating emergency cell phone alerts to ensure New Yorkers have the latest information and are continuing to coordinate with local counties to monitor conditions and distribute masks," Hochul said in a statement. Transit authorities will also use public address systems, bus headway signs, social media and other digital tools to provide air quality alerts.
"I encourage all New Yorkers to stay informed about the latest updates and take the necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones."
Hundreds of thousands of N95 masks are available at major transit hubs and state parks, as well as at state-run stockpiles for local governments to distribute.
Masks are available at the following locations for Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road commuters:
- Grand Central Terminal
- Penn Station
- Jamaica Station
- Main Concourse of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, South Wing
- Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn
- Grand Concourse, Bronx