Boston, MA – Millions of residents across the East Coast are under air quality alerts Thursday as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to drift across the region, prompting health advisories from multiple state environmental agencies.
According to state environmental and health agencies, air quality alerts are in effect across much of New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and parts of New Jersey through Thursday evening or midnight. Fine particulate pollution is expected to push Air Quality Index (AQI) values into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category in many locations, with some localized areas reaching even higher levels.
The advisories cover major population centers including New York City, Boston, Hartford, Providence, Albany, Burlington and Manchester, along with numerous surrounding counties and communities. Officials say wildfire smoke remains the primary cause of the degraded air quality as atmospheric conditions transport smoke southward from Canada.
Health officials recommend children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and people with asthma, heart disease or other respiratory conditions reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity until air quality improves. Residents experiencing coughing, shortness of breath or chest discomfort are encouraged to move indoors and consult a healthcare provider if symptoms persist.
Many agencies also recommend keeping windows closed, using air conditioning on recirculation when possible, and monitoring local air quality updates before spending extended periods outside.
Forecasts indicate conditions may gradually improve after the smoke plume shifts, although localized changes are possible throughout the day depending on wind patterns. Residents are encouraged to monitor AirNow.gov and their state’s environmental agency for updated advisories and current AQI readings.
