The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has issued an air quality advisory to start off the week.
DEC’s advisory went into effect at midnight on Monday and will go until the late-evening hours the same day. Details on the potential extension of the advisory remains to be seen.
The air quality index (AQI) in Central New York is expected to reach 150-or-greater. According to airnow.gov, the AQI in Cortland County is 131.
It’s the third air-quality advisory that’s gone into effect this summer. The advisories are due to the smoke and smell of burning wood moving into the United States from Canada’s ongoing wildfires.
“New Yorkers should once again prepare for smoke from the wildfires in Western Canada to impact our state’s air quality this week,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said via a press release. “To help everyone stay informed and safe, we are activating emergency notifications on our roads and public transit systems and making masks available to counties for distribution. As forecasts continue to evolve, I encourage New Yorkers to stay up to date on the latest information and take the necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones.”
Further details from the state’s press release are here.
