Wildfires Cause Poor Air Quality Issues in New Jersey

New Jersey residents dealt with a poor air quality alert earlier this week as a result of Canadian wildfires.

According to a Shore News Network report, on Tuesday, July 29, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for Ocean County and southeastern Burlington County. A Code Orange Air Quality Alert indicates that air pollution levels may be unhealthy for sensitive groups of people such as children, older adults, and individuals with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions.

Amid poor air quality conditions caused by the wildfires burning thousands of miles away in Canada, a heat advisory was also issued for New Jersey, where heat index values were forecasted to reach as high as 104 degrees. 

After a sweltering beginning to the week with high temperatures and high humidity levels, relief is coming. Rain chances will increase on Thursday, July 31, with scattered showers forecasted for the morning and more widespread thunderstorms likely during the afternoon. Some storms may produce locally heavy rainfall. Highs on Thursday will be in the mid-80s.

Rainfall will continue through Thursday night into Friday, with one to two inches of rain possible. Overnight lows will drop into the upper 60s. Temperatures are forecast to reach the mid-70s as August begins on Friday. The weekend of Saturday, Aug. 2, and Sunday, Aug. 3, will bring sunny skies to the state with a high near 80 degrees on Saturday and a high of 84 on Sunday, according to a National Weather Service forecast.