NYC and Long Island are under an air quality warning: here is what that means

If you woke up this morning and noticed the skyline looking hazy and the air a little harsher on the lungs, you're not imagining things. A major air quality advisory is in effect today across all five boroughs and Long Island, in response to a massive wildfire burning in southern New Jersey.

The culprit is the Jones Road wildfire, which has already scorched more than 13,000 acres in Ocean County and is only 50% contained. With no significant rain expected until later this week, the blaze continues to churn out smoke that’s drifting some 60 miles north, right into our city’s airspace.

According to NYC Emergency Management, the air quality today is classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” meaning that anyone with asthma, heart or lung conditions, children, the elderly and pregnant individuals should take extra care. If you’re in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island—or Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester or Rockland counties outside of the city—you’re in the alert zone.

So, what should you do? First: Stay inside if you can, especially if you're vulnerable to respiratory issues. Keep your windows shut, skip the candles and incense, and avoid frying food that can worsen indoor air. If you have an air conditioning unit, set it to recirculate air and use a high-efficiency filter. If you’re out and about, a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask can help reduce the harmful effects of the particles in the air.

The warning comes amid a broader trend: wildfires are making our air worse more regularly than before. A recent study by the American Lung Association found that 25 million more Americans are breathing polluted air compared to the previous year.

Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to take precautions via social media this morning, and city officials are closely monitoring the situation. For real-time updates and to check your neighborhood’s Air Quality Index (AQI), head to AirNow.gov.

Breathe easy—just not outdoors today.