ROCHESTER, NY — An air quality warning for the Rochester area remains in effect Tuesday. That’s because skies remain hazy due to the Canadian wildfires.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued the alert for Western New York, Central New York, Eastern Lake Ontario and the Adirondacks.
The wildfires are occurring 250 to 300 miles north of Rochester, near Quebec, Canada. At least 160 individual fires are burning and many are still out of control.
For Rochester, it all depends on the wind direction. A northerly wind directs this smoke west of New York, and smoke concentration occurs not only in the upper atmosphere, but also in the lower layers of the atmosphere.
As a result, the New York State Department of Health is concerned about the higher levels of particulate matter measured today. When pollution levels reach this level, NYSDOH recommends considering restricting outdoor activities. The people who should be most concerned are the elderly and the very young – especially if you have breathing problems.
The sunset appears dark orange on Monday evening due to the wildfire smoke. Photo was taken around 8pm in the Swillburg area of Rochester (Credit: Dave “Bippy” Boyer)
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