When Will Skies Clear On LI? Air Quality Advisory Extends Into Friday

LONG ISLAND, NY — Hazardous air quality and pollutant exposure continues to threaten Long Island with air quality warnings extending to Friday, as smoke from Canadian wildfires lingers.

Both National Weather Service and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation issued air quality advisories until midnight EDT Friday.

Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 100 for the pollutant of Fine Particulates.

Gov. Kathy Hochul told New Yorkers Wednesday evening the smoke might abate over the weekend, but forecasts remain uncertain. The service expects widespread haze before 2 p.m. on Friday.

Hochul also encouraged school districts throughout the state to postpone any outdoor activities.

"Our message right now is going to be reiterated multiple times because it is simply, stay indoors. Outdoors is dangerous in just about every part of our state, not just vulnerable communities, but literally everyone," Hochul said in a press conference on Wednesday. "We normally are accustomed to talking about children, babies, people with compromised immune systems, senior citizens, but this is something that's having an effect on everyone."

Exposure to air pollutants from the wildfire, which as particulate matter and ground-level ozone, can cause headaches, irritated eyes and sinuses, fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pains, asthma attacks, irritated throat and increased coughing, the weather service said.

"Poor air quality can be hazardous to anyone, and it can aggravate health problems such as asthma, heart disease, and lung disease," the weather service added. "Seniors, children and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk."

Here's the weekend forecast from the National Weather Service:

Friday: A chance of showers before 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Widespread haze before 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind around 7 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.

Monday Night: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.