New York City air quality today: Here's when Canadian wildfire smoke could be the worst
NYC air quality: Here's when smoke will be the worst l Timeline
FOX 5 NY's Mike Woods breaks down when smoke will be the worst in the New York City area.
NEW YORK CITY - Canadian wildfire smoke returned on Thursday morning to New York City, prompting the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue an air quality alert for parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
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Why is the air quality so bad today?
The backstory:
A massive outbreak of Canadian wildfires is sending plumes of smoke all the way down to the New York City region, impacting air quality, according to the NWS.
Air Quality Alerts (FOX Weather)
Current air quality NYC: Map
Local perspective:
This map from AirNow.gov shows the current air quality in the New York City area. Click here if you're having trouble viewing the embedded map.
What air quality is dangerous?
By the numbers:
The numbers show how clean or polluted the air is and stand as a guideline for outdoor activities that day, especially for sensitive groups.
- 0-50: Good, with little to no risk of pollution.
- 51-100: Moderate and really is not a risk to anyone unless they're unusually sensitive to poor air quality. The national weather service will often still issue an air quality alert when we're in this range.
- 101-150: This is a risk for sensitive groups and people with asthma.
- 151-200: A risk for everyone and people who are sensitive are at risk for more severe complications.
- 201-300: Very unhealthy and a risk for everyone.
- 301+: Emergency conditions.
Why is there an air quality alert today?
Why you should care:
The air quality alerts caution "sensitive groups," a big category that includes children older adults, and people with lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The New York State Department of Health recommends individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity.
NYC air quality alert: How concerned should you be?
Smoke from Canadian wildfires returned to the New York City area, prompting air quality alert for parts of NY, NJ and CT. FOX 5 NY's Robert Moses has the details.
Air quality index NYC
Dig deeper:
For today's air quality index forecast for New York state, click HERE.
To check the air quality in your area, click HERE.
Will the air quality improve tomorrow? FOX Weather live updates
2023: Canadian wildfire smoke pours into Northeast
In June 2023, winds blew smoke from unchecked Canadian wildfires into the region, which led the Department of Environmental Conservation to issue an Air Quality Health Advisory for all five boroughs.
According to IQAir.com, New York City had the world's worst air quality of any major city in the world back on June 7, with an AQI rating over 350, more than twice as high as Dubai.