The Hoboken Girl Team 
After an outbreak of wildfires in Ontario, Canada, affected the northeast, an air quality alert remains in effect across New Jersey and the NYC metro area as smoke continues to move into the region. The expectation is for it to linger through Thursday, July 16th and Friday July 17th, so here’s what to know for your safety. Keep reading to learn about the air quality alerts in New Jersey.
The Origin
The smoke is coming from a wildfire outbreak in Ontario, Canada, which is sending smoke hundreds of miles south via changing wind patterns. It has affected parts of New Jersey, the NYC Metro, New England, and the Great Lakes area, among other United States regions. The concentration of smoke peaked on Wednesday, July 15th, but has been expected to linger throughout the rest of the week.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) has hovered around an “unhealthy” level in the New Jersey + NYC Metro area from Wednesday to Thursday, with reports of eye irritation and a smoky smell from residents. Here is a guide to the Air Quality Index:
- 0-50 | Good
- 51-100 | Moderate
- 101-150 | Unhealthy for sensitive groups
- 151-200 | Unhealthy for everyone
- 201+ | Very unhealthy to hazardous
If the Air Quality Index climbs above 100, it is recommended to limit strenuous outdoor activities, including runs, workouts, or sports. The AQI peaked around 162 in the NYC Metro on Wednesday night.
The biggest concern is the fine particles (PM2.5) in wildfire smoke, which can travel deep into your lungs and enter your bloodstream. These can affect everyone but are especially harmful for children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with heart or lung conditions. You may also notice symptoms (even if you’re healthy), including burning or watery eyes, a scratchy throat, coughing, headaches, fatigue, or shortness of breath during exercise.
When Will It End?
The wildfire smoke is expected to become more concentrated through Thursday morning and remain at relatively steady levels through Friday, with air quality alerts likely to remain in effect through at least Friday. Until then, experts recommend avoiding strenuous outdoor activity, keeping windows closed, and wearing an N95 or KN95 mask if you need to spend extended time outside. It is also advised to run your air conditioning in recirculate mode and use air filters in your home, if possible.
We will continue to update this article with more information as it is received.
See More: Where to Find Cooling Centers in Hudson County
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