Air Quality Alert Issued For LI As Canadian Wildfire Smoke Returns, Heat Wave Hits

LONG ISLAND, NY — An air quality alert has been issued for Long Island due to Canadian wildfire smoke causing hazy skies in New York, and the high temperatures blanketing the state.

The alert from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation remains in effect for most of the state on Wednesday, and indicates that smoke will be visible in western New York before it disperses across the state.

Governor Kathy Hochul warned New Yorkers that smoke from the Canadian wildfires and high temperatures can create unhealthy air conditions.

"Distant wildfires have impacted New York State in recent years, and this week unfortunately, will be no different with expected hazy skies and poor air quality," Hochul said. "We are now closely tracking these conditions, and I strongly encourage New Yorkers to stay informed and take appropriate precautions to stay safe. Sensitive groups should take particular caution."

Long Island's Air Quality Index report for today from the NYS DEC is at 125 fine particles, or unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups. The AQI details how clean or polluted the air is, and the higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern, the NYS DEC said. If the AQI is above 100, an alert is issued for sensitive groups to take precautions.

The smoke is coming from wildfires in western Ontario, and is producing large smoke plumes visible on satellite across the Great Lakes and U.S. Northeast, the NYC Emergency Management team stated. Canadian wildfires have caused spikes in AQI in the past, including the June 2023 incident, when the wildfire smoke caused New York City's AQI to reach 465, NYSEM said.

The NYSEM stated anyone with heart or lung conditions should "prepare now."

Those in western New York are seeing AQI levels in the 160s and 180s, which tells us the air quality is unhealthy for all, not just sensitive groups.

Air quality will be monitored by the NYS DEC continuously.