Health warnings have been issued due to smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting across the country, and New England is expecting hazy weather on Saturday, July 26.
According to the National Weather Service, unhealthy air conditions prompted the issuance of air quality alerts for the majority of Saturday across Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine.
The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map shows these situations. According to its website, AirNow monitors air quality in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Park Service, NASA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and state and local air quality authorities.
The Air Quality Index, which gauges particle pollution, is displayed on the map. As of 11:15 a.m., reports from Boston, Weymouth, and Brockton indicated alarming amounts, advising everyone to limit their outside activities and stay indoors if they are experiencing symptoms.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has issued an Air Quality Alert that will be in force until 11 p.m. on Saturday.
Only people with health issues should take precautions, according to the majority of reports from the rest of the state, which revealed readings that were unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The air quality index for Saturday is predicted to approach or surpass the code orange, or unhealthy for sensitive groups, category until 11 p.m., according to an air quality notice issued by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources further north due to the smoke from the wildfires.
According to the National Weather Service, sensitive groups may suffer from negative respiratory symptoms as well as worsening heart or lung conditions. Children and teenagers, elderly persons, and those with heart or lung conditions are among the sensitive categories.
Similarly, until 11 p.m. on Saturday, the Bureau of Air Quality of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services both issued a particle pollution advisory for the whole state.
Overnight, a smoke plume entered Maine, bringing with it far higher than anticipated particle pollution levels, according to the National Weather Service. Although the smoke plume is predicted to continue moving and values should decrease over the day, the air quality in these areas will remain a health issue for the majority of the day.
Public health officials encourage sensitive groups to take more breaks and engage in less strenuous activities while keeping an eye out for signs like coughing or shortness of breath, even though they can be active outdoors.
People with asthma should keep their quick relief medication close at hand and adhere to their action plans. If a person with heart disease experiences any symptoms, such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual weariness, they should speak with a healthcare professional because these could be signs of a major issue.
To keep citizens informed, Maine established a toll-free air quality hotline. You can reach them at 1-800-223-1196.
The state’s environmental management department in Rhode Island declared a fine particle matter action day that would last until midnight. This implies that the region’s fine particle concentrations may be close to or higher than harmful levels.
