Smoke from Canadian wildfires made a return to the Rochester area and other parts of New York state on Monday, and that triggered an ‘air quality health advisory’ from the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation and the NYS Health Dept.
Wildfire smoke is the main culprit in places including the Rochester area, Western NY (the Buffalo area), the Adirondacks, and the Hudson Valley.
The New York City metro area was dealing with an ozone advisory.
Most of upstate, north of the New York City area and Lower Hudson Valley, including the Rochester area, was in the ‘unhealthy’ range, which is an Air Quality Index (AQI) range of 151 to 200, earlier on Monday which means everyone may begin to experience health effects, but members of sensitive groups, may have more serious health effects.
The air quality health advisory for the fine particulate matter is in effect on Monday from midnight through 11:59 p.m.
On Monday afternoon, state officials said that some areas of the state, including the Rochester area, would still have an air quality health advisory for Tuesday as well.
The conditions are expected to improve somewhat, but still be 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' which includes those with heart and lung ailments as well as older adults and children.
State officials advise going indoors when the air quality degrades which may reduce exposure. They also suggest avoiding strenuous activities in areas where fine particle concentrations are high.
You can get up to date information on the Air Quality Index at airnow.gov and there is also a smartphone app available.
