Air Quality Alert Issued For Somerset County As Wildfire Smoke Returns

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Although we are getting a break from the severe thunderstorms, we now have to deal with air quality issues as the smoke from the ongoing wildfires in Canada returns to Somerset County.

Somerset County is under an Air Quality Alert from midnight Wednesday night, through midnight Thursday, according to the National Weather Service(NWS).

"Levels of fine particulates will remain elevated in the unhealthy for sensitive groups category statewide on Thursday due to residual Canadian wildfire smoke," the NWS said.

An Air Quality Advisory means that air quality within the area may approach or exceed unhealthy standards.

AirNow.gov, which reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), shows Somerset County is expected to hit 150 out of 400 on Thursday.

Risky AQI, which may pose a hazard for people who are sensitive to air pollution, begins at values above 50, according to the federal website.

Earlier this month, the air quality in Somerset County rose to dangerously unhealthy levels as the skies turned orange due to the wildfire haze.

Wildfires have burned over 19 million acres since the start of the year, roughly 6.3 million of which were in Quebec, according to Accuweather.

— With reporting by Nicole Rosenthal, Patch Staff

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