If you’re in eastern Pennsylvania or New Jersey and noticed a haze in the sky Sunday morning, you weren’t imagining things.
Due to smoke from Canadian wildfires, the air quality index over much of the region was in the “orange” range, according to AirNow.gov. The orange range means sensitive groups of people with breathing conditions are urged to keep time outside short and avoid strenuous activity.
From Reading to Philadelphia to the Lehigh Valley to New York City, hazy conditions and smoky air filled the sky. The Canadian wildfires are centralized in Manitoba, according to Canada’s wildfire database.
While Pennsylvania did not issue any official air quality alerts, New Jersey issued a “Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulates” through midnight for much of the state.
In its Sunday morning forecast discussion, the National Weather Service forecast office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, noted that “low level smoke continues to affect the forecast area.” It noted that conditions were expected to continue throughout the afternoon.
“Sunshine returns Monday and Tuesday with hot afternoons, but smoke levels will continue to be monitored for possible air quality degradations,” according to the forecast discussion.
In the Lehigh Valley, the air quality index, or AQI, peaked at around 6 a.m. Sunday morning, just barely hitting the threshold for the red category, which means “unhealthy” for everyone.
However, some of the poor air quality was quashed due to early morning precipitation. More showers and thunderstorms are expected throughout the afternoon.
Here is the scale used to determine the AQI and what each category means:
Green: Good
0 to 50: Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
Yellow: Moderate
51 to 100: Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Orange: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
101 to 150: Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
Red: Unhealthy
151 to 200: Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
Purple: Very Unhealthy
201 to 300: Health alert. The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.
Maroon: Hazardous
301 and higher: Health warning of emergency conditions. Everyone is more likely to be affected.
Source: Berkshire mont