Ongoing Canadian wildfires are bringing a haze to Philadelphia for the second summer in a row.
Although not as intense as it was last year, there is still a health risk for anyone in the city who is sensitive to poor air quality.
Last year, unique weather conditions funneled the wildfire smoke south from Canada into the U.S.. The weather, paired with the severity of the wildfires, pushed the air quality index (AQI) into the triple-digits, meaning that the air in the city was “very unhealthy” to breathe in.
Philadelphians quickly became familiar with terminology like Code Orange, Maroon and Purple, and AirNow.gov and the city health department saw their website traffic spike.
This time, the haze over Philly is due to a high-pressure system pushing the smoke south, according to NBC10’s weather team. However, the system is acting as less of a “funnel” for the smoke and more of a “fan,” guiding the smoke into the region.
Fortunately, the AQI has not risen into the triple digits during this new round of wildfires, though you should keep an eye on it — especially if you are someone who is unusually sensitive to air pollution or someone with an underlying health condition.
It is expected to peak at 80 on Friday before leveling off as the smoke begins to clear, according to the EPA’s air quality tracker.
(Check out our list of websites and resources that monitor Philly’s AQI in real time.)
If you are more sensitive to air pollution, the Philadelphia Health Department released some tips last year on how to best keep yourself safe and healthy in the midst of the wildfire smoke:
- Avoid going outside, especially if you are in any high-risk group for the wildfires.
- If you do go outside, try wearing a high-quality mask. These help keep the particulates from the smoke from getting into your lungs!
- Avoid congested areas and try to stick to areas with a lot of air circulation, like a park
And though the smoke isn’t nearly as bad as it was last year, it’s good to be mindful of the air quality as we finish out this week. And don’t forget to look on the bright side: this time, there’s no apocalypse-esque orange haze.
