Update: There is still an air quality health advisory as of Friday morning. Airnow.org recorded NYC’s air as “unhealthy” at 165 AQI. Governor Hochul said emergency cell phone alerts will go out if AQI exceeds 200 or “very unhealthy” air.

It’s continued to get worse because, according to the State, high pressure strengthened over coastal New England and clockwise circulation worked upwind from the south, which was expected to start pushing smoke back northward toward Canada. The forecast shows that it will clear and diffuse from south to north across New York State into Saturday morning.

Original:

Remember when NYC’s sky grew orange and cloudy with smoke from Canada’s wildfires a few weeks ago? Well, government officials are saying near-surface smoke may return to New York on Wednesday thanks to a cold front moving in.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State has the potential for “unhealthy” air quality with thick surface smoke overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.

The DEC says this is because of a cold front entering Western New York from the northwest in the early morning hours Wednesday and reaching Downstate regions (NYC) by Wednesday evening. Winds are expected to bring potential near-surface smoke impacts statewide.

“As we closely monitor the changing forecast, New Yorkers should be prepared for the potential return of smoke from the Canadian wildfires,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement. “I encourage everyone to remain vigilant, especially if you are vulnerable to air pollution, stay up to date on the latest information and take steps to protect yourself.”

The state DEC and health department will issue air quality health advisories to regions impacted by smoke Tuesday afternoon if necessary. This happens when ozone or fine particulate matter are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100.

In case that happens, the state health department advises the following:

• New Yorkers in vulnerable groups should avoid exertion outdoors and watch for symptoms when exposed to the outdoors. Vulnerable individuals include those with cardiovascular disease (e.g., congestive heart failure, history of prior heart attack) or lung disease (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), as well as children under 18, adults 65 and older, and pregnant people.
• When AQI is greater than 150, all New Yorkers should avoid strenuous outdoor activities, and those in vulnerable groups should avoid exposure to the outdoors, especially pregnant individuals who may become short of breath more easily.
• For people who spend time outdoors, when air quality is unhealthy, wearing a well-fitting face mask is recommended. An N95 or KN95 will work best.

Let’s hope it doesn’t come to this again.

You can track air quality on airnow.gov and see the DEC’s forecast here.

* This article was originally published here

New York just got two extremely pretty new residents: meet Fiona and Ginger, two new horses joining the NYC Parks mounted command in Queens. 

The dashing duo will be living at the brand-new Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) mounted command facility at the Sunrise Stables in Gemini Fields, Queens, the first new mounted command facility in the borough in 23 years, which will serve as training grounds for mounted PEP officers. The horses will allow for increased mounted patrol in parks in both Queens and Brooklyn, including Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Prospect Park. 

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“We’re excited to debut our new command facility at Sunrise Stables for mounted Parks Enforcement Patrol units, the first facility of its type in Queens in 23 years! Our Parks horses Fiona and Ginger will help our dedicated PEP officers patrol some of the marquee parks in Queens and Brooklyn, as well as the beaches and boardwalk in Rockaway,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We are so thankful to the L.P. Rizzuto Foundation for this donation, which will allow us to provide a more visible presence in our parks, furthering our commitment to keep our greenspaces safe and welcoming, assist with crowd control during special events, and provide first aid when needed.”

“We are excited to expand our Parks Mounted Unit into Queens, here at Sunrise Stables, and thank Gallop NYC for welcoming us,” said NYC Parks Deputy Commissioner of Urban Park Service and Public Programs Margaret Nelson. “The generous donation from our longtime supporters at the L.P. Rizzuto Foundation enabled Parks to purchase trailers to house and care for our current horses and station staff on site, while ongoing operations will be funded by Parks. Located on the border of Brooklyn and Queens, this expansion will allow the communities of these two boroughs to interact with the Mounted Unit as they patrol to keep our parks safe and educate the public.”

That generation donation—$162,000 donation from the L.P. Rizzuto Foundation— funded a new office trailer and horse trailer have been added to the park, allowing for expanded Parks operations out of Sunrise Stables. From there, mounted PEP officers will be able to go out and patrol city parks like Forest Park, Fort Greene Park and Alley Pond Park, and even make it all the way down to the sandy stretches of Rockaway Beach. 

Check out the gorgeous girls below:

* This article was originally published here