Breathing

Air Quality Clears Up In New York, A Day After Ozone Alert

The Midtown Manhattan skyline is seen from the 'Edge at Hudson Yards' observation deck on April 8, 2024 — The Midtown Manhattan skyline is seen from the "Edge at Hudson Yards" observation deck on April 8, 2024.
(Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)

At a Glance

Air quality improved in New York on Wednesday, the lower Hudson Valley and parts of New Jersey.
An air quality alert for potentially unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone was issued Tuesday.
People with asthma and other health issues were advised to limit outdoor activity.

Air quality was back to good and moderate levels across the New York metropoilitan area Wednesday, a day after an air quality alert

was posted for the city, the lower Hudson Valley and 12 counties in New Jersey.\air quality alert.

The air quality index (AQI) in New York was 67 on 101, at the low end of unhealthy for sensitive groups, like people with asthma or other respiratory illnesses. The index exceeded 100 in parts of northeastern New Jersey as well. The rest of the tri-state area had good or moderate air quality.

At an AQI between 101 and 150, the New York City health department recommends people with health issues limit their outdoor activity to one hour. Healthy people generally need not worry, but the department recommends anyone take a break from strenuous outdoor activity if they experience shortness of breath, coughing, a sore throat or watery eyes.

High temperatures in the area were expected to be in the upper 70s and low 80s, with rain expected later in the week. Air quality was expected to improve.

Ozone and PM2.5 particulate matter cause 2,400 deaths in New York every year and thousands of hospital visits for asthma, heart and lung problems, according to the health department.

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