New Yorkers aren’t out of the haze just yet.
Although Wednesday’s dangerous triple-digit heat is easing, Canadian wildfire smoke continues drifting across the Northeast today, Thursday, July 16, prompting New York City to extend its heat emergency operations as forecasters warn air quality could reach “unhealthy” levels throughout the day.
Smoke that first arrived over the city Wednesday has begun mixing closer to ground level, with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) forecasting an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 200 for the New York City metro area on Thursday due to fine particulate pollution (PM2.5).
Unlike yesterday’s advisory, today’s forecast means everyone, not just sensitive groups, may begin experiencing health effects.
Air quality becomes the biggest concern as heat eases
Wednesday marked the hottest day of this week’s heat wave, with temperatures climbing near 100°F and heat index values climbing to 104°F.
Although the National Weather Service’s Heat Advisory expired Wednesday night, Thursday will still be hot, with highs in the low 90s. Because many homes without air conditioning will remain uncomfortably warm, New York City has extended its Heat Emergency Plan through Thursday, keeping hundreds of cooling centers open across the five boroughs.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged New Yorkers to take both hazards seriously:
It’s dangerously hot and smoke from Canadian wildfires has worsened our air quality, which means New Yorkers need to be extra vigilant to stay safe. Prioritize staying cool by seeking air conditioning indoors and limit time outdoors where possible. Stay hydrated, check on your neighbors, and follow the Health Department’s guidance.
The smoke has already reached ground level
Unlike Wednesday morning—when meteorologists were still watching to see if the smoke would descend—the smoke has now begun mixing down to the surface in parts of New York City.
According to NYC Emergency Management, portions of the city already reached “Unhealthy” air quality on Wednesday, and Thursday’s forecast calls for an AQI of 200, the upper end of the “Unhealthy” category.
Officials say conditions can still change rapidly depending on how much additional smoke mixes down throughout the day.
The New York Times reports that Thursday is expected to unfold much like Wednesday, with the densest smoke gradually drifting south throughout the day. Around New York City, forecasters expect the worst air quality during the afternoon and evening, while both the smoke and lingering heat are expected to begin easing by the weekend.
Significant and still-spreading wildfires continue burning across western Ontario, producing enormous smoke plumes visible from satellites and carrying pollution hundreds of miles into the Great Lakes and Northeast. According to city officials, while current conditions are not expected to rival the record-breaking June 2023 smoke event, this could become New York City’s most significant wildfire smoke episode since then.
How to stay safe: Cooling off still comes first
Even with smoky skies, officials stress that protecting yourself from the heat remains the top priority.
If your apartment doesn’t have air conditioning and becomes too warm, the City says you should go to a cooling center, even during the smoke event. Staying in a cool indoor space offers the best protection from both extreme heat and wildfire smoke
1. Protect Yourself Indoors
- Prioritize AC Over Outdoor Air: Keep your windows and doors closed. Set your air conditioners or HVAC systems to recirculate indoor air rather than drawing in smoky air from the outside
- Never Turn Off Your AC: Even if your air conditioner’s filtration is basic, staying cool is the absolute priority during a heat emergency
- If You Don’t Have AC, Go to a Cooling Center: Do not stay in a hot apartment to avoid outdoor smoke. Being in a cool, indoor space protects you from both heat and smoke. Call 311 or visit the City’s Cool Options Map to find one of the 600 cooling centers open across the five boroughs
- Keep Indoor Air Clean: Avoid activities that lower indoor air quality, such as frying food, burning candles, or vacuuming
2. Take Precautions Outdoors
- Limit Strenuous Activity: Avoid heavy outdoor exercise. If you must be outside, take frequent hydration and rest breaks
- Keep Pet Walks Short: Wildfire smoke affects pets similarly to humans. The American Veterinary Medical Association suggests keeping walks short and limit outdoor time for cats and dogs strictly to quick bathroom breaks during active advisories
- Wear a High-Quality Mask: If you must spend prolonged time outdoors, a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask is highly effective at filtering out PM2.5 particles
- Get a Free Mask: Free KN95 masks are currently available at public library branches across the five boroughs (including Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, and key NYPL branches like the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in Manhattan and the Bronx Library Center)
3. Free KN95 masks are available citywide
The City has expanded its free mask distribution as smoke continues affecting the region. Free KN95 masks are available at:
- All NYPD precincts
- Brooklyn Public Library branches
- Queens Public Library branches
- Select New York Public Library locations, including the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library and Bronx Library Center
- Select FDNY firehouses throughout the five boroughs
4. Know Your Risk Profile
While poor air quality eventually affects everyone, “sensitive groups” need to take immediate and specific precautions. This includes:
- Older adults and young children
- Individuals with pre-existing heart or lung conditions (like asthma or COPD)
- Pregnant individuals
- Outdoor workers
When to seek help: If you or anyone around you experiences severe shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing, or coughing that won’t stop, seek medical attention immediately or call 911.
How to track air quality in real time
Conditions can change rapidly depending on wind patterns and active wildfire suppression efforts. Officials recommend monitoring:
- AirNow.gov: Input your zip code for real-time local AQI levels and forecasts
- Notify NYC: Sign up at nyc.gov/notifynyc or text NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 for instant emergency alerts on your phone.
- DEC Daily Forecast: Check the daily updates directly from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Forecasters expect the smoky conditions to gradually improve heading into the weekend as a new weather system pushes both the lingering heat and wildfire smoke away from the Northeast.
After the smoke clears, New Yorkers are urged to replace dirty HVAC and air purifier filters and ventilate your home once the AQI improves.