NYC air quality alert today: Live map for NY, NJ, CT – Check your area

The National Weather Service has issued an air quality alert for NYC, as well as parts of New Jersey and Connecticut.

JUMP TO: NYC l NEW JERSEY l CONNECTICUT l LIVE MAP

"High levels of ozone, that's also quite common when you see the heat and humidity building up," FOX 5 NY's Mike Woods said.

It comes as a heat wave is forecast to drive temperatures sky-high across the New York City area to potentially dangerous levels not experienced in several years. Temperatures are expected to soar upwards of 20 degrees above what is typical in mid-June, with heat indices in the dangerous range. 

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Here's what you need to know:

Air quality NYC

The following counties are under an air quality alert:

  • Bronx
  • Kings
  • New York
  • Orange
  • Putnam
  • Queens
  • Richmond
  • Rockland
  • Westchester

Air quality alert New Jersey

The following counties are under an air quality alert:

  • Bergen
  • Essex
  • Hudson
  • Passaic
  • Union

Air quality alert CT

The following counties are under an air quality alert:

  • Northern Fairfield
  • Northern Middlesex
  • Northern Middlesex

Air quality map

This map from AirNow.gov shows the current air quality in the New York City area. Click here if you're having trouble viewing the embedded map.

Why is there an air quality alert today?

The air quality alerts caution "sensitive groups," a big category that includes children, older adults, and people with lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The New York State Department of Health recommends individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity. 

What does air quality alert mean?

"An Air Quality Action Day means that Ground Level Ozone within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards," the National Weather Service said.

The alert begins at 11 a.m. and remains in effect until 11 p.m.

Air quality index NYC

For today's air quality index forecast for New York state, click HERE.

To check the air quality in your area, click HERE.

2023: Canadian wildfire smoke pours into Northeast

Last June, winds blew smoke from unchecked Canadian wildfires into the region, which led the Department of Environmental Conservation to issue an Air Quality Health Advisory for all five boroughs.

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A view of the hazy city during bad air quality as smoke of Canadian wildfires brought in by wind. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

According to IQAir.com, New York City had the world's worst air quality of any major city in the world back on June 7, with an AQI rating over 350, more than twice as high as Dubai.