Air quality alerts return in Cortland County

Cortland County will see slight disruptions in air quality as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has once again issued an air quality alert, weeks after the state organization’s last alert.

DEC’s fine particulate matter health advisory went into effect at midnight and will go until the late-night hours of Wednesday. The air quality is anticipated to reach “unhealthy for sensitive groups” levels in Central New York (CNY). 

Cortland County and the rest of the CNY region is expected to see its air quality index (AQI) range between 100-150. During the week of June 5-9, the AQI reached between 300-400, sometimes over 400.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's air quality index (AQI) chart. (Photo via the DEC).

The alerts come after Canada’s record-setting wildfire season continues to burn coast-to-coast in the country. 

According to CBS News, there were 490 active fires in Canada on Tuesday. The highest number of blazes is in Quebec, with 117 current active fires recorded.

The ongoing wildfires have led to a blanket of smog and the smell of burning wood in the United States’ midwest region. The smoke has also crossed the Atlantic Ocean and reached western Europe.

Since early Wednesday morning, the AQI in the Cortland area has consistently been in the 80-to-90 range for a moderate air quality level, according to airnow.gov.

To sign up for air quality alerts, click here.