Officials: Canada wildfire smoke means unhealthy Long Island air quality for sensitive groups

Long Island’s air quality will be unhealthy for seniors, people with asthma and other vulnerable groups on Thursday because of smoke from Canada wildfires, state officials said.

Sensitive groups across Long Island — children and teenagers, pregnant women, anyone with heart or lung conditions, outdoor laborers and those in "disadvantaged communities" — should reduce outdoor activities, be mindful of shortness of breath or coughing and take more breaks on Thursday, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's website.

The air quality health advisory, in effect until 11:59 p.m., was issued for Long Island and the rest of the metropolitan area and the Lower Hudson Valley over "fine particulate matter pollution caused by wildland fires in Western Canada," according to a news release from Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The alert regarding sensitive groups is the third of six levels on the state DEC’s Extended Air Quality Index, which relays public health information pertaining to ozone and fine particle pollution.

"Poor air quality can pose serious health risks, especially for people with asthma and heart conditions, " said Dr. James McDonald, the state’s health commissioner, in a statement. "Be alert for signs of heat related illness, like dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can be life threatening. I also encourage everyone to keep an eye on one another and take action if you think someone is experiencing heat or air quality related illness."

Thursday’s alert arrived as smoke from hundreds of wildfires in June have burned more than 1,000 square miles so far across several Canadian provinces, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

"There’s some smoke aloft from some distant fires," said Matt Wunsch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Upton office.

On days marked by clear skies over the past two weeks, Wunsch said, the weather service could view the smoke via satellite over Long Island, and "a lot of it looks like it’s moving offshore." But the smoke cannot leave the Island, he added, until a lingering high pressure system gives way to a low pressure system by Saturday.

"Right now, there isn’t really a lot of flow," said Wunsch, adding the light west and southwest winds, which will gust up to 20 mph, will be close to the surface, and therefore not enough to blow the smoke away from Long Island.

Fine particle pollution can cause a hazy atmosphere, diminish visibility and elevate health risks, including asthma, low birth rate and heart disease, according to the New York State Department of Health.

Forecasters said Thursday’s conditions are not expected to mirror those Long Islanders experienced in the summer of 2023, when smoke from Canadian wildfires colored local skies orange and led to multiple days of air quality alerts.

"It shouldn’t really obscure the sun or anything like that," Wunsch said. "It might make sunrise and sunset a little more vibrant, but for the most part, it’s really not that noticeable unless you’re looking at the satellite imagery. ... A lot of people don’t even notice it unless it’s kind of crazy like it was a couple of years ago."

In addition to air quality concerns, Long Islanders should brace for warmer-than-normal temperatures Thursday, according to the governor’s release. 

The high is forecast to top out at close to 90 degrees in some areas, dipping to 65 overnight before a mix of sun and clouds Friday with a high of 81, according to the weather service.

All areas of Nassau and Suffolk counties are at minor to moderate risk of heat-related impacts, which will affect those extremely sensitive to heat and "those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration" according to the NWS HeatRisk index.

"With summer almost here, New Yorkers should make plans to stay cool and safe, and sensitive groups should take steps to especially avoid potential health issues from high temperatures, humidity, and air quality,"  Gov. Hochul said in a statement. “I encourage everyone to be prepared for periods of warmer weather, including making a preparedness plan and knowing the location of local cooling centers."