When will the air quality improve in Rochester NY? Here's the air quality forecast

Marcia Greenwood, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Updated ·3 min read

The wildfire smoke from Canada is back, and vulnerable people are being cautioned to limit outdoor activities to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.

On Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service in Buffalo tweeted that what appear to be dreary, cloudy skies are actually skies laden with fine particulate matter resulting from the ongoing wildfires.

As of 10:50 a.m., the Air Quality Index, or AQI, was 156. An AQI number of 50 or below represents good air quality, while an AQI value of more than 300 represents hazardous air quality. Values are updated in real time at airnow.gov, a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal and state and local air-quality agencies.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality health advisory through midnight Wednesday for Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, northern Cayuga and Oswego counties.

When pollution levels are elevated, as they are now, the DEC recommends that people consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity. Those who may be especially sensitive to conditions include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems.

When will air quality improve in upstate NY?

Smog from the wildfires in Canada have been making their way across the upper United States. The smog obscures some of the Rochester skyline that is normally clearly scene at Cobb Hills Park.
Smog from the wildfires in Canada have been making their way across the upper United States. The smog obscures some of the Rochester skyline that is normally clearly scene at Cobb Hills Park.

Kirk Apffel, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Buffalo, said a weak airflow had caused smoke from wildfires to pool for a period of time over northern Michigan and southern Ontario. However, a northwest airflow is now in play, which is pulling the smoke back into our area.

He said conditions will vary over the next couple of days.

"Sometimes you'll be able to smell the smoke, sometimes you won't," he said. Likewise, visibility will decrease on and off.

"By the time we get to Friday, there will be a more southerly airflow, and that will help clear things out," he said.

What you should know Air quality alert in effect for Rochester region

New York wildfire, smoke map Track latest wildfires, red flag warnings

Current air quality levels in New York

Here are the latest air quality index readings in New York

What are the wildfires like in Canada now?

Fires are shown burning across Canada in this June 28, 2023 map created by NASA and the Fire Information for Resource Management System US/Canada.
Fires are shown burning across Canada in this June 28, 2023 map created by NASA and the Fire Information for Resource Management System US/Canada.

There were 492 active wildfires burning throughout Canada as of Monday, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Of those, 259 are considered out of control.

It's one of the worst wildfire seasons on record for the country. Smoke from wildland fires burning in Quebec has even reached parts of southwestern Europe, NASA's Earth Observatory reported on Monday. Soot particles reached across 2,000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, causing hazy skies in Europe. Air quality there is mostly fair because the particulates are higher in the atmosphere, NASA said.

Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Air quality forecast for Rochester NY: When will air quality improve?