Sky watch: A breath of fresh air heading into the weekend

As we're cutting-and-pasting from AccuWeather: "Air quality levels have significantly improved in New York City since Wednesday afternoon." 

And!

As of Friday morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was at 36 in New York City's Central Park. The "fair" air quality level is a significant improvement from the "very unhealthy" and "dangerous" levels it was at on Wednesday. 

At 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the AQI was at 413 for NYC — historically high levels that haven't been seen in decades (the good old days!) for NYC, as NBC 4 and other outlets pointed out.

Goggla took the above photo on Wednesday afternoon from Seventh Street and Avenue A... by Tompkins Square Park and the Samuel S. Cox statue. She has some more shots from around the neighborhood here.

Where to get free N95 masks today in the East Village

Air quality advisories remain in place as the Canadian wildfire smoke continues to cover the Northeast.

Local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera's office is providing free N95 masks today until 5 p.m.

Air quality levels today are expected to be unhealthy and hazardous, and the City is advising that residents limit outdoor activity. We have N95 masks available at our district office at 254 E 4th St for pick up through 5 pm, while supplies last.

— NYC Council Member Carlina Rivera (@CMCarlinaRivera) June 8, 2023

The office is at 254 E. Fourth St., just east of Avenue B. 

And how long will these hazardous conditions and photogenic skylines remain?

Per Gothamist: 

 The National Weather Service said Thursday that a low-pressure system over Maine will be stalled at least until Saturday, keeping the smoke funneling southward instead of floating east.

Photo from this morning at 6:30 

Wednesday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

Ninth Street at First Avenue looking north at 2:45 p.m.

June 7, 2023, 3:02 p.m.

Midtown view from the East Village this afternoon. A faint outline of the Empire State Building ... no sign of the Chyrsler Building, MetLife Building, etc. 

Per Gothamist: 

The smoky haze descended on the Northeast from blazing wildfires in eastern Canada, covering swaths of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware. A stalled nor’easter in Maine is blocking the jet stream from following its normal movement, funneling the air mass south.

The result? A thick smog that makes it hard to breathe and smells like one big campfire. 

The city has issued a warning about outdoor activities...

We're in the worst of the conditions, but the Air Quality Health Advisory has been extended until 11:59 pm Thursday — which our teams have been anticipating.

Mask up and limit your outdoor activities.

See real-time air quality: https://t.co/Ok9k6nidUG pic.twitter.com/EfceKRUu6Y

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) June 7, 2023

Avenue B, 2 p.m., Sept. 16

A view of the sun this afternoon along Avenue B between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

As you've likely heard, smoke from wildfires in the Western United States reached NYC earlier this week, giving the sky a hazy and milky look during the day.

Upper level winds continue to spread smoke from the West Coast #wildfires across much of the northern half of the CONUS, reaching well into the Atlantic Ocean! Skies will continue to be hazy as a result. Meanwhile, #HurricaneSally is impacting portions of the Southeast. pic.twitter.com/LadTkwIs21

— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) September 16, 2020

"Meteorologists expect the graying effect to be ... present until the smoke is eventually pushed off the coast by a cold front on Friday," Gothamist reported.