Air quality will be very poor today due to the smoke and haze from wildfires in Canada, according to the National Weather Service.
The agency in Mount Holly, New Jersey, is recommending to limit time and any exertion outdoors as well as to wear a mask to help limit irritation if you have to spend time outdoors today.
Why is the sun red today?:Wildfire smoke from Canada causes air quality alert for Northeast
Wildfires and smoke:See what areas of the US are experiencing wildfires or seeing smoke
When will the smoke clear?
The smoke and haze is anticipated to have some improvement Wednesday morning, but an additional plume of thick smoke should spread south into the area later this afternoon and evening, according to the NWS.
Air quality today
Delaware and Philadelphia
The current air quality is very poor, according to airnow.gov. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens:
- Avoid physical activities outdoors.
Everyone else:
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
- Keep outdoor activities short.
- Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.
New Jersey
The current air quality is poor. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens should take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activities;
- Keep outdoor activities short;
- Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.
Others takeany of these steps to reduce your exposure:
- Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard;
- Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors;
- Be active outdoors when air quality is better.
How many acres are on fire in Canada?
On Tuesday there were more than 400 wildfires burning across the country, 238 of them out-of-control. Smoke and unhealthy air quality levels from the conflagration have blanketed multiple Canadian provinces, much of the Great Lakes region and parts of the northeastern United States.
While forest fires are a natural part of the ecosystem of Canada’s boreal forests, the size, ferocity and number of fires this year is decidedly abnormal. Most of the country is expected to be under high to extreme risk for much of the wildfire season, which stretches from May to September.
New Jersey fire:Wildfire burning in Jackson triples in size, avoid area: NJ Forest Fire Service
Canada on fire:As Canada burns, smoke makes US air unhealthy and skies eerie. Is climate change to blame?
Canadian wildfire smoke map
On Tuesday the federal AirNow fire and smoke map listed Albany, NY; Bennington, Vermont; Hartford, Conn.; and parts of New York City as “UNHEALTHY” and advised residents to “reduce activity or consider going indoors.”
View the map, here.
Why does the moon look orange?
The smoky skies have helped reduce temperatures across much of the mid-Atlantic. Due to an area of low pressure that’s hovering offshore, along with an area of high pressure over Canada, a northerly flow of air was funneling the smoke south into the U.S. from Canada, AccuWeather said. This was keeping temperatures cooler than average, as the smoke filters out the blazing June sunshine
Why is it smoky in New Jersey?
As many as 30 homes and other structures are threatened by a wildfire that has more than tripled in size since it started Tuesday afternoon in Jackson Township, Ocean County, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
The blaze has been named the “Glory Fire,” for its proximity to Glory’s Market on Cedar Swamp Road. As of 9:45 p.m., the wildfire had spread across 50 acres, officials with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.
Firefighters expected it to spread to just under 100 acres by the morning.
The fire was 70 percent contained as of Wednesday morning, but some structures are still at risk, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.
