Friday's opening shot

Another reader-submitted photo from last evening... Houston at Norfolk... 

The air quality is again deemed "unhealthy". 

Per reports: 

Air quality is expected to improve gradually by the weekend as shifting winds help disperse wildfire smoke. However, periodic smoke episodes may continue over the next few days, with additional plumes possible as long as wildfires remain active in Minnesota and Canada. 

As previously noted, in response to the wildfire smoke, the city is making free masks available at the locations on this map.

Thursday's parting shot

An EVG reader shared this Midtown view this evening... showing the wildfire smoke from Canada and Northern Minnesota covering the city... 

Per Gothamist: "The worst of the Canadian wildfire smoke should clear out of the city by Friday afternoon." 

BUT! 

The bad news is that some of it could return over the weekend and early next week — and also a chance that it could mix with rain on Saturday to blanket cars and streets with a nasty layer of soot.

Find free KN95 masks here. 

The heat isn't done yet — and neither is the wildfire smoke

The city's heat emergency plan has been extended through today as another day of 90-degree temperatures coincides with smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting into the region.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is forecasting an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 200 for the NYC metro area today — considered "Unhealthy." Officials are urging New Yorkers to limit outdoor activity, especially those with heart or lung conditions, older adults and children.

Cooling centers will remain open today, and free KN95 masks are available at locations citywide. Locally, that would be at the 9th Precinct on Fifth Street between First and Second Avenues... plus our two library branches, Ottendorfer on Second Avenue and Tompkins Square on 10th Street. Find a map for other NYC locations here. 

According to The City Reporter, "when smoke from Canadian wildfires engulfed the city in June 2023, the boroughs turned suddenly orange, with air quality indices reaching 484 — the highest ever recorded." 

The City Reporter has more FAQs and resource info here.

It's not just you — the whole area smells like smoke. Here's why.

Due to NJ wildfires, NYC residents may see or smell smoke. Guidance: https://t.co/EOStLz9R6e. A Red Flag Warning is in effect citywide until 6PM today, 11/9. Exercise caution w/ outdoor flames. Immediately report fires to 911. Multilingual & ASL Link: https://t.co/fCMmaLTzmK pic.twitter.com/eqSvrNhY5m

— NYCEM - Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) November 9, 2024

People were asking if there was a fire overnight in the East Village... No, the smoke you smell is due to wildfires in New Jersey... and probably Prospect Park...

It’s 70 degrees in November, and Prospect Park is burning.

I was on the ground tonight in Brooklyn as @FDNY crews battled a brush fire with support from @NYCEmergencyMgt, @NYPDnews, and @NYCParks.

After the driest October on record, NYC is under a DROUGHT WATCH, which highly… pic.twitter.com/xD6rpL7MV7

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) November 9, 2024

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.