Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting smoke from wildfires over Quebec to elevate fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels on Wednesday, June 7th. These levels are expected to exceed Unhealthy levels for the entire state.
When air quality is forecasted to be Unhealthy, there is an increased likelihood for all individuals for aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly. There are also increased respiratory effects in the general population.
How do Forest Fires in Quebec Impact Connecticut?
Major wildfires are still burning across Quebec, most of which are out of control. The wildfire smoke from Quebec is being funneled into Connecticut because of a stalled upper-level low-pressure system over Nova Scotia. With this weather pattern, winds at all levels of the atmosphere are from the north and northwest and these winds will persist through Wednesday. The following image shows the fire locations with the smoke plumes from the EPA Fire and Smoke Map. The satellite image from today shows a thick smoke plume over Connecticut, with an even a thicker smoke plume over New York State. Currently, the PM2.5 levels at the surface are in the Unhealthy range and are expected to persist in this range throughout the day.