Here’s what to know about the wildfire smoke.
Three weeks after Canadian wildfire smoke, propelled south by stiff winds, blanketed New York City in an eerie, potentially dangerous haze, a similar though potentially less severe smog had moved into the area by Thursday morning and threatened to linger into Friday.
Although air quality in the city and surrounding counties was generally good to moderate into Wednesday evening, state officials, anticipating the smoke’s arrival, extended a statewide air quality health advisory through midnight Thursday.
“We expect that plume to move into the state a bit more quickly than it moves out,” Basil Seggos, commissioner of New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation, said at a news briefing on Wednesday.
The fresh warnings came as residents of Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit and other Midwestern cities experienced conditions similar to what New Yorkers confronted in early June, when a plume of smoke bathed the city in an acrid cloud over two days.
Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York warned that conditions could deteriorate significantly as a result of soot and smoke particles thrown off by Canada’s worst wildfire season in decades continuing to drift east, carried along by the jet stream.
Air quality levels, Ms. Hochul said, were expected to range from “unhealthy for sensitive groups” — including children, older people and those who are pregnant or who have heart or lung disease — to “unhealthy” for everyone in parts of the state. Central and western New York continued to be at the highest risk as of Wednesday, officials said.
It was possible, the governor added, that temporary spikes could push the air quality into “very unhealthy” or “hazardous” territory across the state. She and other officials recommended that residents check the air quality index regularly and keep high-quality face masks handy when going outside.
“We’re urging New Yorkers to remain vigilant” and “take the necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones,” Ms. Hochul said in a statement.
As of June 7, fires in Canada had scorched more than 10 times the acreage burned by around the same time last year. As of early Thursday, there were at least 500 active wildfires in the country, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. More than half were burning out of control.
Climate research suggests that heat and drought associated with global warming are major reasons behind the number of fires and their intensity.
As David Brown, an air quality meteorologist at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, noted, Canada’s wildfire season does not typically begin until early July, meaning the effect on air quality in the northern United States could persist for weeks at least.Title: Wildfire Smoke Threatens New York City Again, Prompting Health Advisory
Date: June 29, 2023
By: Chris Stanford
Three weeks after Canadian wildfire smoke engulfed New York City, a similar smog has returned to the area, raising concerns about air quality and public health. The smoke, propelled by strong winds, is expected to linger until Friday, prompting state officials to extend a statewide air quality health advisory.
Basil Seggos, commissioner of New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation, warned that the plume of smoke is likely to move into the state more quickly than it dissipates. The smoke is a result of Canada’s worst wildfire season in decades, with over 500 active wildfires burning out of control.
Governor Kathy Hochul cautioned that air quality levels could range from “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to “unhealthy” for everyone in certain parts of the state. Central and western New York are at the highest risk. Temporary spikes in air pollution could even push the air quality into “very unhealthy” or “hazardous” territory. Residents are advised to regularly check the air quality index and have high-quality face masks on hand when going outside.
The increase in wildfires and their intensity can be attributed to heat and drought associated with global warming, according to climate research. Canada’s wildfire season typically begins in early July, meaning the impact on air quality in the northern United States could persist for weeks.
In addition to New York City, other major cities such as Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit are also experiencing similar conditions. The Air Quality Index for several cities shows high levels of air pollution, with Pittsburgh and Chicago classified as “very unhealthy.”
As smoke from wildfires increasingly crosses borders, tracking and studying it has become crucial for shaping air quality and health measures worldwide. Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new method to trace smoke and pollution back to individual wildfires, helping officials determine which fires pose the greatest health risks. The study also highlights the worsening impact of wildfires and their smoke on air quality due to climate change.
The combination of extreme heat and wildfire smoke underscores the urgent need to address climate change. As temperatures rise and wildfires become more frequent and intense, the effects on air quality and public health will continue to worsen. Governments and individuals must adapt their approaches to managing air quality and take proactive measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
As the wildfire season continues, it is crucial for communities to stay informed, follow health advisories, and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones from the harmful effects of smoke pollution.dels are showing different scenarios, with some indicating that the smoke could dissipate before reaching the coast, while others suggest that it could linger and impact air quality. The uncertainty is due to the complex nature of atmospheric conditions and the unpredictable behavior of smoke plumes.
The smoke is originating from wildfires in Canada, where a record-breaking wildfire season is currently underway. The fires have burned more than 10 times the acreage compared to the same time last year, and over 500 active wildfires are currently burning in the country. The heat and drought associated with climate change are believed to be major factors contributing to the intensity and frequency of these fires.
The smoke from the Canadian wildfires has already affected several major cities in the United States, including New York City, Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit. In early June, New York City was blanketed in a thick haze of smoke, causing air quality to deteriorate and posing potential health risks, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions.
To address the potential impact of the wildfire smoke, state officials in New York have extended a statewide air quality health advisory through Thursday midnight. They are urging residents to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones. The air quality index is being regularly monitored, and residents are advised to check it frequently and have high-quality face masks on hand when going outside.
Researchers at Stanford University are also studying the impact of wildfire smoke and developing new methods to trace the smoke back to its source. Their findings could help officials determine which wildfires are likely to have the greatest health consequences and allocate firefighting resources accordingly. The study shows that as wildfires have worsened in recent years, so has the smoke pollution, with the U.S. population experiencing double the smoke pollution from 2016 to 2020 compared to the previous decade.
As the frequency and intensity of wildfires increase, tracking and studying smoke becomes increasingly important for shaping air quality and health measures. The ability to predict the movement of smoke and assess its potential impact on air quality can help authorities make informed decisions and protect public health.
While the exact extent of the smoke’s impact on coastal cities like New York remains uncertain, officials and researchers are closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary precautions to mitigate any potential risks. The health and well-being of residents are of utmost importance, and efforts are being made to ensure their safety during this period of heightened wildfire activity.
