Unhealthy Air Coming Wednesday As Temps Soar

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — As the temperatures are rising, the air quality is declining in the Hudson Valley. The New York State departments of Environmental Conservation and Health have issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for Wednesday for the New York City Metro area, which includes Rockland and Westchester counties, as well as for Long Island.

• The pollutant of concern is: Ozone
• The advisory will be in effect: 10 a.m. through 10 p.m.

The Air Quality Index will be at Unhealthy for sensitive groups in Rockland and Westchester. In the rest of the Hudson Valley, the Air Quality Index has been downgraded from Good to Moderate for Wednesday.

The reason for above-average temperatures is a high pressure system that will become anchored over Bermuda through Thursday, the National Weather Service said. Heat and humidity will increase over the next few days, with the peak of the heat on Thursday.

High temperatures on Wednesday will top out around 90 degrees across northeast New Jersey with mid and upper 80s across the Hudson Valley. Thursdays highs are expected to reach the mid 80s to lower 90s area wide. Average highs for this time of year: low 70s.

"On Wednesday and Thursday, we go from a taste of summer… to being submerged in summer," said Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather.

DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern.

OZONE

Summer heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of photochemical smog.

Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are the primary sources of ground-level ozone and are the most serious air pollution problems in the Northeast.

This surface pollutant should not be confused with the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere.

People, especially young children, those who exercise outdoors, those involved in vigorous outdoor work and those who have respiratory disease (such as asthma) should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity when ozone levels are the highest (generally afternoon to early evening). When outdoor levels of ozone are elevated, going indoors will usually reduce your exposure. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing should consider consulting their doctor.

Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during daylight hours by curtailment of automobile travel and the use of public transportation where available.

TIPS FOR COPING

Westchester and Rockland residents are advised to take these energy-saving and pollution-reducing steps:

• use mass transit or carpool instead of driving, as automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of pollution in our cities;
• conserve fuel and reduce exhaust emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle trips;
• turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas;

• use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats at 78 degrees;

• close the blinds and shades to limit heat build-up and to preserve cooled air;
• limit use of household appliances. If necessary, run the appliances at off-peak (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters;
• set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures;
• purchase and install energy efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label; and
• reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and attempt to minimize indoor sources of PM 2.5 such as smoking.

MORE INFO

To to get up-to-date information about air quality, call the DEC hotline at 1-800-535-1345. Further information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available here and here on DEC’s web site.

Air Quality Health Advisory regions consist of the following: Region 1 Long Island, which includes Suffolk and Nassau counties; and Region 2 New York City Metro, which includes New York City, Westchester and Rockland.