DC air quality drops to code red again due to Canadian wildfires.

Washington, D.C. Faces “Code Red” Air Quality Alert as Wildfire Haze Engulfs the Region

Once again, Washington, D.C. finds itself under a “code red” air quality alert as smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets the mid-Atlantic and Northeast states. The situation is expected to persist on Thursday, prompting the Air Now Air Quality Index to urge sensitive groups to limit outdoor exposure and seek shelter indoors. Even the rest of the population is advised to consider moving their activities indoors. On Wednesday, a code orange alert was issued, indicating unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups.

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According to the Air Quality Index, any reading above 151 is classified as “code red,” signifying unhealthy air quality. This recent wave of smoke from Canadian wildfires follows a period earlier this month when Washington, D.C. faced significant air quality issues. During that time, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments issued a “code purple” health advisory, marking the region’s first code purple day for fine particle pollution under the current air alert system.

On Wednesday afternoon, Washington, D.C. ranked among the top 10 major world cities with poor air quality, trailing behind Chicago, Minneapolis, and Detroit, as reported by IQAir.

Western New York is also expected to experience code red levels on Thursday, prompting Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) to caution vulnerable groups to take necessary precautions while outdoors.

The Environmental Protection Agency advises residents under weather warnings due to haze to avoid strenuous activities and minimize time spent outdoors. Additionally, workers who must be outside are urged to wear an N95 respirator mask, as cloth masks do not provide adequate protection against wildfire smoke.

In June, Canada’s wildfires generated over 100 megatons of carbon, as reported by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.

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