News

May 03, 2023

Hazy, smoky skies continue to blanket Pa.

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People across Pennsylvania are dealing with hazy, smoky skies again today.

You can see a time-lapse of the smoke obscuring the sunrise Thursday morning until, finally, it breaks through.

"What a neat lapse there, but what a terrible air quality condition we have outside," said WGAL Meteorologist Christine Ferreira.

The day started with a code red air quality alert but has since moved to code orange.

A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases, and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.

The air quality issues are the result of smoke from wildfires in Canada.

Crews there are keeping an eye on 400 active fires – more than 150 in Quebec alone.

NASA reports some of those fires were started by lightning strikes.

At least 26,000 people have been forced out of their homes so far.

The smoke filled the sky outside Boston, and the view was hazy in Connecticut.

New York City public schools canceled all outdoor activities on Wednesday. At one point, New York reportedly had the world's worst air pollution of any major city.

New Jersey's governor warned people to limit time outdoors.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro had the same warning. He tweeted, "My team and I have been monitoring this situation over the past 24 hours. Smoke is affecting the entire Commonwealth."

Video below: Check out the hazy skies on south-central Pa. sky cams.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the haze is made up of tiny particles.

Those particles can get in your lungs and make it difficult to breathe, and they're especially dangerous for people with asthma or other lung issues.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health provided some tips to help people stay healthy.

All Pennsylvanians are encouraged to:

Tips to help keep particle pollution lower indoors:

Air quality can affect your health, especially people who may be at greater risk, including:

If you experience symptoms like trouble breathing or dizziness, seek medical attention. If you know a family member or neighbor who has one of the above conditions, remember to check in on them.

Visit www.airnow.gov to find the latest air quality levels and recommendations for your location.