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The New York division of homeland security and emergency services has issues a map of the air quality levels across the state.
The majority of western New York is currently categorized as “unhealthy.”
— NYS Div. of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (@NYSDHSES) June 30, 2023 The Tri-County Office on Aging, a nonprofit organization based in Lansing, Michigan announced the cancellation of a downtown east Lansing Pride event tonight.
The event, which would have featured live music, drag music, giveaways and vendors, was cancelled “due to continuing air quality advisory,” the group said.
Downtown East Lansing’s Pride event that was scheduled for tonight from
5 – 9 pm has been cancelled due to the continuing air quality advisory.
Image: Flyer for Downtown East Lansing’s Pride event, with the red words over that say, “Postponed Due to Air Quality Advisory!!” pic.twitter.com/HSmYRYD4TY
— TCOA (@TriCountyAging) June 30, 2023 According to AirNow, the air quality in Lansing is currently “moderate.”
“If you are unusually sensitive to particle pollution, consider reducing your activity level or shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors,” AirNow said.
An excessive heat warning issued in Memphis by the National Weather Service will continue through Friday.
Temperatures are expected to top 110F, the NWS reports.
It also urged residents to practice heat safety wherever they are by limiting outdoor activities, taking breaks on outdoor job sites, checking up on the elderly, sick and those without AC, and never leaving vehicles unattended.
An Excessive Heat Warning will continue through Friday due to heat indices forecast to top 110 degrees. Make sure you practice heat safety during this time so that you and your loved ones remain safe. pic.twitter.com/qcuNizf1Af
— NWS Memphis (@NWSMemphis) June 30, 2023 Democracy Prep Public Schools in New York City have postponed their family ice cream social due to the smokey haze currently shrouding the city.
“Due to the poor air quality conditions in NYC, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone today’s Ice Cream Social,” the network consisting of multiple public charter schools in the city tweeted.
📢EVENT POSTPONED 📢
Due to the poor air quality conditions in NYC, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone today’s Ice Cream Social. But we’re using this time to make it even more incredible when it happens! Stay tuned for updates! 🍦 pic.twitter.com/DxGQPKsoFi
— DEMOCRACY PREP (@DemocracyPrep) June 30, 2023 Texas pipeline operators released hundreds of tons of toxic gases into air as state battles heatwaveOil and gas companies in West Texas released hundreds of tons of toxic gases into the air last week as a record-breaking heatwave drove pressure inside pipelines and compressors to dangerously high levels.
Insider Climate News reports:
One company, Houston-based Targa Resources, alone released more than half a million pounds of gas into the air during at least 17 reported events over a seven-day period, according to records filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
In one instance, the $17 billion company vented 238,000 pounds of gas when facilities in its pipeline network dialed back operations “to prevent them from shutting down due to high ambient temperature.” In another, it released 168,000 pounds “to prevent compressor units from overheating due to high ambient temperature.”
“These are just huge, major release events,” said Wilma Subra, an environmental chemist and MacArthur fellow in Louisiana, who reviewed the data for Inside Climate News. “That gas contains a whole host of chemicals that cause cancer and chronic diseases.”
A searing heat wave in June broke temperature records across Texas. Because gas expands as it warms, the weather caused sharp pressure increases inside the pipeline systems that carry West Texas gas to refineries, power plants and other customers.
In order to avoid explosions, operators release gas into the air, including the potent greenhouse gas methane, which traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide. Methane also contributes to ground-level ozone pollution, which can cause breathing problems and other health issues.
For the full story at Inside Climate News, click here.
WA Parish Generating Station, a natural gas and coal power plant, in Fort Bend County near Houston, Texas on June 25, 2023. Photograph: Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto/ShutterstockEmergency cell phone alerts will be used to warn New Yorkers in case the air quality index meets or exceeds 200.
According to governor Kathy Hochul’s office, the alerts will also go out if the air quality gets classified as “very unhealthy” air and is sustained for an hour or more.
Currently, air quality index levels are forecast to range from “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to “unhealthy” for ll during this time.
New York state department of health commissioner James McDonald urged people in sensitive groups to stay indoors, saying:
“As we can see and smell in much of the state, air quality across large portions of New York is currently unhealthy; New Yorkers who are especially sensitive to elevated levels of pollutants, including the very young and those with pre-existing conditions such as heart disease or asthma, should avoid spending time outdoors, if possible, in areas where the AQI is over 100.
If you must go outdoors in areas that have air that is unhealthy or worse, consider wearing an N95 mask. Those who experience symptoms, or have symptoms that worsen, should consider consulting their health care provider.”
Here are images of the north-east as states including New York, Illinois and New Jersey remain covered in varying layers of smoke and haze:
A man walks along Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington as smoke from raging Canadian wildfires creates hazy skies, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. June 28, 2023. Photograph: Quinn Glabicki/ReutersPidgeons fly in front of a billboard during hazy air from Canadian wildfire smoke in New York City June 30, 2023. Photograph: Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty ImagesSmoke from Canadian wildfires blankets Washington, DC, in haze, United States – 29 Jun 2023 Photograph: Allison Bailey/NurPhoto/ShutterstockPeople carry on with their daily lives as the air quality is at unhealthy levels due to smoke from Canadian wildfires in New York, United States on June 29, 2023. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesA sailboat makes its way across the Chesapeake Bay through a the thick layer of smoke that has blanketed the area from Canadian wildfires, in Stevensville, Maryland, on June 29, 2023. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty ImagesThe National Weather Service has recommended keeping strenuous activity to a minimum as a record-breaking heatwave sweeps across multiple states.
In addition to using a buddy system, the NWS urged individuals to limit exercising outdoors during the hottest parts of the day.
Tell us: have you been affected by extreme weather in the US?We would like to hear from people across North America about how they have been affected by recent extreme heatwaves and smoke from Canadian wildfires.
You can tell us how you have been affected and share your experiences by messaging us or using this form in the link below:
With New York City shrouded in a smokey haze over the last few days, swarms of tiny bugs appear to have been flying across the city.
Videos posted onto Twitter shows clusters of small insects flying frantically in multiple boroughs including Brooklyn and Manhattan.
“While scientists have yet to confirm where exactly the bugs came from, it’s possible that they could be Pyrophilous insects: species like the Microsania that are attracted to smoky, post-fire landscapes for mating and resources,” the Gothamist reports.
Temperatures in Phoenix, Arizona are going to reach triple digits this weekend, with the highest being 116F on Sunday and Monday, ACB15 Arizona reports.
Excessive heat warning effects have been issued for the entire Phoenix metro area and they’ll remain in effect all through July 4th.
Events cancelled across US and Canada due to poor air qualityA handful of events across northeastern US and Canada have been cancelled due to poor air quality.
The arts and community-oriented organization, The Laundromat Project, has cancelled its Friday Pride social event in Brooklyn, New York where an air quality alert has been issued.
Due to the increased air quality issues announced throughout New York City we’ve postponed our Final Fridays event. pic.twitter.com/ociF3xibug
— The Laundromat Project (@LaundromatProj) June 30, 2023 The Washington DC-based organization Wolf Trap which showcases a series of art performances has cancelled its sold-out concert tonight featuring English songwriter Robert Plant and American singer Alison Krauss.
Due to the impact of the Canadian forest fires on the air quality in the Washington, D.C. metro area, tonight’s sold-out concert with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss at Wolf Trap has been postponed and will be rescheduled for Summer 2024.
Wolf Trap and artist management teams…
— Wolf Trap (@Wolf_Trap) June 29, 2023 In Toronto, Canada, the live horse-racing event at Woodbine Racetrack has been cancelled today, as Environment Canada’s air quality index for Toronto is listed as “High Risk.”
Woodbine Entertainment has announced today’s card of live racing at Woodbine Racetrack is cancelled due to poor air quality.t.co/mZc2Z1ucJT
— Woodbine Racetrack (@WoodbineTB) June 30, 2023 Another horse-racing event at the Maryland Jockey Club in Laurel, Maryland has been cancelled for today and rescheduled to July 6.
According to the Maryland department of health, the air quality across the state as of Thursday was at “unhealthy levels.”
Due to poor air quality, live racing has been canceled today. Today’s card will be moved to Thursday, July 6.
— Maryland Jockey Club (@LaurelPark) June 30, 2023 Here is a look at the varying air quality levels across northeastern states earlier this morning.
New York City has since topped Toronto as the city with the worst air quality in the world, with Washington DC and Chicago coming in fourth and fifth, according to air quality tracker IQAir.
air quality Photograph: IQ Air