NEW YORK (WABC) — All of New York State, including New York City, is under an Air Quality Advisory due to the smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada.
By sunset on Wednesday, very heavy smoke may reach New York City and other parts of the East Coast.
New Yorkers may see visible smoke and hazy skies across the state and spikes in smoke-related pollution.As a result, New York City Emergency Management says an Air Quality Advisory is in effect.
Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can cause shortness of breath, coughing, dizziness or fatigue and aggravate heart and lung diseases and other chronic health issues.
Experts suggest reducing or eliminating outdoor activities, wearing a N95 mask if you have to be outside and keeping your indoor air cleaner by closing windows and running an air purifier or air conditioner.
RELATED | Tracking air quality across the New York City region
Free KN95 masks are available at select public library branches including all Brooklyn Public Library & Queens Public Library locations, the St. George Library Center (Staten Island), the Bronx Library Center (Bronx), and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (Manhattan).
Additionally, NYCEM says certain firehouses will also have the masks available.
“This week, New Yorkers, are facing two environmental health challenges at once, extreme heat and the potential for wildfire smoke,” said NYC Health Commissioner, Dr. Alister F. Martin. “With extreme heat continuing across New York City, the safest place to be is in a cool, air-conditioned indoor space.”
Conditions in New York are not expected to be as intense as they were in June 2023.
(ABC News contributed to this report.)
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