Air Quality Alert impacting outdoor activities across Western New York

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced an Air Quality Advisory was issued for the majority of New York State on Wednesday which is effective until 11:59 p.m.

The advisory is due to smoke from Canadian wildfires that is being blown into the region causing hazy conditions and a smoky smell.

You can check the current air quality in your area here.

Due to the advisory, outdoor activities are being impacted here in Western New York.

A number of school districts have canceled all outside activities:

• Buffalo Public Schools announced Wednesday that all outside activities have been canceled Thursday AND Friday.
• Ken-Ton Union Free School District canceled all outdoor field trips scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
• West Seneca Central School District additionally canceled all building-based outdoor activities Wednesday and Thursday, as well as a track meet that will be moved to June 12.
• Depew Union Free School District will cancel all afterschool outdoor activities and will move their senior picnic and carnival to June 12.

You can check with your child's school district for more information on outdoor activity cancellations.
In addition, below are other outdoor events and activities that have been impacted by the advisory:

• The City of Buffalo has suspended sanitation pick-up for Wednesday. The city says to leave your totes out and crews will resume on Thursday.
• The city said splash pads will not open on Wednesday.
• The Live at Larkin concert has been postponed to a later date.
• The Buffalo Zoo will close early with the last entry at 2 p.m. and the grounds will close at 3 p.m.
• The Transit Drive-In will be closed Wednesday.
• Town of Lewiston Recreation Department has canceled all baseball.

According to the Erie County Department of Health, "Larger particles in polluted air – smoke, soot, dust – can irritate your eyes, nose, throat and lungs as the body tries to filter out and keep those particles out of your respiratory system. Pollution, like what we see this week, also contains fine, smaller particles – which can get into your lungs and bloodstream and affect your health."
The ECDOH said the following are the most vulnerable:

• Older adults
• Babies, children and teens, especially those with asthma; asthma is a common lung condition.
• Smokers – their lung capacity and health is already reduced.
• People with heart or lung diseases (COPD, asthma, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease)
• Pregnant people

The ECDOH said preventing and reducing exposure to polluted air is the key and provided the following tips:

• If you have to go outside for an extended period of time, a well-fitted N95 mask can filter out some particles in polluted air. People who wear N95 masks when outside should avoid strenuous activity. Reducing exposure to polluted outdoor air is the best way to avoid negative health effects.
• Spend more time indoors, where particle pollution levels are usually lower. This could mean taking a break from outdoor activities like sports or home and lawn maintenance.
• If you choose to exercise outdoors, choose easier activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.
• Use common sense. Check on neighbors and family members.
• Follow burn bans and use safety measures with campfires and other outdoor activities – especially as we come up to fireworks season. Have a fire extinguisher and/or buckets of water nearby and accessible.
• Consider air filters and use as directed. When the outdoor air is smoky and pollutant levels are high, do not rely on ventilation to bring outdoor air indoors. Close up windows and doors. Close fireplace dampers. Turn off ventilation systems.
• Think about your pets too – they’re breathing in the same, smoky outdoor air. Consider limiting their time outdoors.

You can find visual maps of air quality/particulate counts updated regularly here.

In addition, the ECDOH is strongly recommending that coordinated outdoor activities be postponed for a later date, once air quality improves.

An Air Quality Advisory has already been issued for Thursday for most of New York State, including Western New York. The hazy and smoky conditions are expected to last at least through Friday.

You can find more about weather conditions at the 7 News Weather page.

7 News will additionally continue to post any updates on outdoor activity cancellations here.