Air quality alert issued for Wednesday in Orleans

An air quality alert has been issued beginning midnight tonight through midnight Wednesday night for Orleans County due to wildfire smoke from northern Minnesota and Canada.

The air quality alert much of Western New York, Central New York and eastern Lake Ontario region.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued the advisory due to an Air Quality Index value of 135 for fine particulates in the outdoor air. The higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern, the DEC said.

When pollution levels are elevated, the State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.

“People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease,” the DOH said. “Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal physician.”

The highs the next few days include 89 on Wednesday, 86 on Thursday, 83 on Friday and 85 on Saturday.