Air Quality Alert Issued for NYC Area: What You Should Know

Erin Pflaumer, Video credit: Stacy-Ann Gooden and Stacy-Ann Gooden

11 minutes ago

NEW YORK (PIX11) – An air quality warning has been issued for the New York City area for Friday.

According to the New York Department of Environmental Protection, the warning affects all five boroughs as well as Westchester and Rockland counties.

A warning is issued when the air quality index is expected to exceed 100. Friday’s index value is exactly at this threshold, above which air quality can be harmful to the health of sensitive groups.

Children, the elderly and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma are strongly advised to limit their time outdoors.

The air quality warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

New York’s Department of Emergency Management previously warned that very dry areas of Canada could experience wildfires this summer, causing a health-threatening haze on the East Coast. In response, New York City has updated its air quality warning guidelines.