The wildfire smoke blanketing the Northeast entered its second consecutive day Thursday, with Air Quality Alerts remaining in effect through tonight or Friday across New York City, all of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont — as Canadian wildfire smoke continues settling over southern New England and the Mid-Hudson corridor.
New York City and the Metro Area
The New York State DEC extended its Air Quality Health Advisory for all five New York City boroughs, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk), Westchester, Rockland, Orange and Putnam counties through midnight tonight. AQI values for fine particulates are predicted above 100, in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range.
The NY DEC Air Quality Hotline is 800-535-1345, and real-time conditions are available at on.ny.gov/nyaqi.
Massachusetts: Statewide Through Tonight
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued an Air Quality Alert for the entire state through midnight tonight — covering Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Lawrence, Cambridge, Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, Plymouth, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Fine particulate concentrations may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups standards. Sensitive children and adults should limit prolonged outdoor activity. Full information at mass.gov/dep/massair/forecast.
Connecticut: All Counties Through Tonight
All Connecticut counties are under Air Quality Action Days through midnight tonight, issued by the Connecticut DEEP — covering Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, Waterbury, Fairfield, New London, Middlesex, Tolland, Windham and Litchfield. Fine particulate concentrations may approach or exceed unhealthy standards. More information at portal.ct.gov/deep.
Rhode Island: Alert Through Midnight
All Rhode Island counties — covering Providence, Newport, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, Westerly, Narragansett and Block Island — are under an Air Quality Alert through midnight tonight. More information at dem.ri.gov.
Vermont and New Hampshire: Code Orange Through This Evening
Vermont’s Air Quality Alert covers Chittenden (Burlington), Washington (Montpelier), Addison, Rutland, Windsor, Orange and Caledonia counties through 11 PM EDT tonight, with the AQI expected to reach Code Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, Middlebury, White River Junction and St. Johnsbury are all in the advisory zone. Vermont’s Bennington and Windham counties are separately under an advisory through 11 PM.
All of New Hampshire — from the North Country (Colebrook, Berlin) to the Seacoast (Portsmouth, Hampton) to the Manchester-Nashua corridor — is under a Code Orange alert through 11 PM EDT, issued by the NH Department of Environmental Services. Code Orange means air may be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, and even healthy individuals may experience mild effects during strenuous or prolonged outdoor activities.
What to Do Today
Sensitive groups across all six states should avoid all prolonged outdoor activity and keep windows closed. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep quick-relief medicine accessible. Heart disease patients who notice palpitations, shortness of breath or unusual fatigue should contact their healthcare provider. Track real-time air quality across the region at AirNow.gov.
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