Canada wildfires threaten CT air quality: Live updates

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Hazy smoke from wildfires burning in Quebec hangs over the Connecticut River in Glastonbury, Conn., on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

Hazy smoke from wildfires burning in Quebec hangs over the Connecticut River in Glastonbury, Conn., on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

The sun is seen though clouds in Waterbury, Conn., Tuesday, June 6, 2023. The sun's bright color is caused by the smoke in an effect known as Mie scattering, experts said. The conditions have been caused by smoke from Canada wildfires.

The sunrise in Connecticut on the morning of June 6, 2023, was obscured by smoke from Canada wildfires.

Smoke from wildfires burning in Canada will create another "unhealthy air" day on Wednesday in Connecticut and the rest of the Northeast, officials said.

Air quality monitoring sites across Connecticut reported unhealthy levels of fine particles in the air early Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fire and Smoke Map.

The level means most people should generally try to stay inside and keep any outdoor activities light and short, according to the EPA. People who are sensitive to poor air should consider moving indoors, the EPA said.

A few monitoring sites in Connecticut recorded air pollution amounts just below that level, reporting the air was "unhealthy for sensitive groups." As with unhealthy air quality, the EPA said people should keep outdoor activities short and light.

Those at-risk from the air pollution include people with heart and lung diseases, older adults, children, people who are pregnant and those who spend a lot of time outdoors, the EPA said.

Different types of pollution can cause air quality concerns. The pollution caused by the fires is from fine particles in the air referred to as "PM 2.5." The tiny particles can get into the body's lower respiratory system, where they cause irritation.

As the air quality in Greenwich continues to be at unhealthy levels, district officials have been holding outdoor activities, such as recess, indoors.

"As we did yesterday, we are minimizing exposure outside where we can on the advice of our health professionals," wrote Jonathan Supranowitz, Greenwich Public Schools’ director of communications, on Wednesday.

So, recess at all 11 elementary schools and three middle schools have been held indoors both Tuesday and Wednesday as the air quality continues to be unhealthy.

Stamford officials reiterated warnings about the smoke on Wednesday as smoke from the Quebec wildfires continued to blanket the state.

"Please note that today the City of Stamford is expected to experience an increase in fine particulate matter particles in the air due to wildfires in Quebec," the city said in a post on its official Instagram page. "Time outside should be limited for children, seniors, and those with respiratory diseases."

A post shared by City of Stamford (@cityofstamfordct)

Smoke from the wildfires is expected to elevate fine particulate matter levels "to exceed unhealthy levels for the entire state" Wendesday, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said in a statement.

"When air quality is forecasted to be unhealthy, there is an increased likelihood for all individuals for aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly," DEEP continued. "There are also increased respiratory effects in the general population."

The poor air quality is occurring due to the major wildfires in Quebec, most of which are "out of control," DEEP said. A stalled upper-level, low-pressure system over Nova Scotia is funneling this smoke into Connecticut.

Satellite images show a thick plume of smoke over Connecticut, with an even thicker smoke plume over New York State, according to DEEP.

Fine particles are considered unhealthy between 151 to 200 on the air quality index scale, meaning one cubic meter of air contains between 65 and 150 micrograms of pollutants, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Wednesday's forecast from DEEP showed particulate matter levels in Connecticut would range from 154 to 163 on the air quality index scale.

As Norwalk and the rest of the state grapple with unhealthy air quality Wednesday, Norwalk Public Schools has cancelled all outdoor activities for the day.

"For the safety and well-being of all students and staff, Norwalk Public Schools has suspended all outdoor activities, including field trips headed outside for today," the city said in a news release.

Mayor Henry Rilling also issued an air quality advisory for the city, in partnership with the school district and the city's health department.

"Some members of the general public may experience health effects, and those from sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects," the city said. "Individuals at higher risk include: children and teens, older adults, individuals with heart and lung conditions like asthma, and individuals who are pregnant."

While indoors, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, it's best to keep the air clean by running an air filter or air-conditioning "but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside."

The CDC recommends that people who are at greater risk during wildfire smoke events stay indoors and run an air purifier to keep their indoor air clean.

But those devices can often cost hundreds of dollars.

If the cost of a retail air purifier is too high, there's a home do-it-yourself option that may work for some called a Corsi-Rosenthal box. The devices use a home fan to drive air through commonly-available filters. Instructions and examples of how to build one can be found here.

Smoke from the fires is expected to linger in parts of the state throughout the day Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, and may extend into the overnight hours in some places.

Highs for the day will be in the 70s with a mix of sun and clouds. There's a slight chance showers could develop in the afternoon.

On Tuesday, smoke from the fires blanketed Connecticut, causing sunlight to take on an orangey-red hue and leaving a burning odor in the air.

The phenomenon is caused by the smoke filtering out other types of light coming through the atmosphere.

"You’re probably seeing more oranges and reds," said Eric Allen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service station in Upton, N.Y., which covers the New York Metro area and southern Connecticut.

Allen said smoke particles in the air cause "Mie scattering" of shorter wavelengths of light.

"What's left visible to the human eye is stuff on the longer end, the yellows, the oranges, the reds," he said.

Other than the overall spooky quality of the red sun and gray sky, the layer of smoke can change the local weather. In smokey areas, the temperature tends to stabilize. Small rain clouds can also form in wildfire smoke.

Staff Writer Vincent Gabrielle contributed to this story.