Hello, wildfire smoke 😶🌫️
Update 713a: Campfire smells, poor air quality to affect Hudson Valley through the end of the week.
You may have noticed hazy skies from the wildfire smoke on Tuesday. That was just the start.
About a dozen out-of-control wildfires in western Ontario, Canada and some in northern Minnesota are creating lots of wildfire smoke that will soon affect air quality in the Hudson Valley.
A smoke plume roughly parallel with Interstate 90 in New York early Wednesday morning was headed south.
It will probably reach the Hudson Valley by early Wednesday afternoon, potentially causing unhealthy air quality that will last into the night.
A second, more widespread and intense smoke plume is forecast to arrive in the region on Thursday afternoon.
That second plume could linger into Friday before changing winds on Saturday blow some of the smoke away and possible rain helps clear the air — at least temporarily.
In other words, get ready for several potentially unpleasant days. Prepare to limit your time outdoors, especially if you’re sensitive to the smoke.
In Michigan, where some of the worst smoke will be, the state environmental agency is advising residents to close their windows and run their air conditioners.
Stay safe and feel free to share your experiences and photos on Facebook!
You can also check out my story about the smoke in Wednesday’s Washington Post. Here’s a gift article.
(PS, you may have to make an account to read it!)
Smells like a campfire in the Hudson Valley
That haziness has already arrived in New York State. The skies have that odd color. It’s not quite the way it was a few years ago when it looked orange outside, but it’s definitely not the way it should be. It is 10 o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, July 15.