An Air Quality Health Advisory will remain in effect for Friday as smoke from the Canadian wildfires continues to impact not only the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier but the entire state.
State Agencies and Authorities continue to coordinate air quality monitoring, public awareness and education, mask distribution, and other efforts to prevent or limit exposure to elevated levels of smoke-driven air pollution across New York. The Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health are closely monitoring air quality for impacts from Canadian wildfires and will issue an Air Quality Health Advisory for tomorrow. An Air Quality Health Advisory is currently in effect, with levels of particulate matter pollution that are ‘Unhealthy’ and ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ in regions statewide.
Air quality is forecasted to reach ‘Unhealthy’ Air Quality Index (AQI) levels on Friday for Western and Central New York and Eastern Lake Ontario regions. At this level, everyone may begin to experience health effects, members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Air quality is forecasted to reach ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ AQI on Friday in the remaining regions of the State. At this level, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.