State officials are again warning of unhealthy, smoky air from multiple wildfires burning in Canada that will drift over New York beginning Wednesday.
Governor Kathy Hochul says weather patterns will bring the smoke from the fires back over the state, beginning in western and central New York on Wednesday, and drifting into eastern New York and the downstate region by Thursday.
“We're expecting the numbers literally tomorrow across the state to be in the unhealthy range, and they'll reach hazardous levels in much of our state,” Hochul said Tuesday.
State environmental and health officials recommend wearing an N95 mask when exercising or doing work outdoors. They also say people with lung- or heart-related issues like asthma and congestive heart failure should take special precautions when the air quality index is 100 or higher. When the number is above 150, everyone should avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
Hochul also advises downloading the AirNow.Gov app or going to its website and signing up for email or text alerts. The state’s Department of Enviromental Conservation website is also monitoring air quality levels.
“If you want to know the effects of climate change, you're going to feel it tomorrow in real time. This is not something that we're talking about future generations dealing with it,” Hochul said. “We are truly the first generation to feel the real effects of climate change. And we're also the last generation to do anything meaningful about it.”
Hochul updated New Yorkers on the air quality while in Manhattan, where she announced the start of the first-in-the-nation congestion pricing for midtown. The controversial measure is aimed at reducing vehicle exhaust that leads to global warming.
“We’re prescribing a decongestant,” the governor said.
Other cities, including London and Stockholm, have already implemented congestion pricing policies. Hochul says exhaust fumes in those cities have been reduced by 20 percent.
