Smoke from roughly 835 wildfires burning in Canada was forecast to push the Air Quality Index to 100 in Rye and the surrounding area on Wednesday, July 15, prompting the Westchester County Health Department to warn vulnerable residents to limit their time outdoors.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued the forecast, citing smoke drifting south from fires concentrated in Ontario. An AQI of 100 sits at the top of the "moderate" range. At that level, the general public is unlikely to feel effects, but sensitive groups face health risks, the county said.

Those sensitive groups include children, teenagers, adults 65 and older, pregnant people, residents with respiratory or heart conditions, people with asthma, and anyone who works outdoors.

The air quality warning is the second weather advisory of the week for Rye, arriving on top of a heat advisory also in effect Wednesday. Both advisories expire Wednesday night.

Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler urged residents to take precautions in the combined heat and smoke.

"Please take this heat seriously," Amler said, according to the Rye Record. "When it is this hot and humid, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, and take frequent breaks from outdoor work if it cannot be rescheduled. Take time to cool off and spend time in air conditioned places."

A low-pressure system moving through southeast Canada pushed wildfire smoke into the northeastern United States on Wednesday, July 15. Canada had 835 active wildfires as of that date, with 112 considered out of control, according to Reuters. The largest single blaze, in western Ontario on the northern shores of Lake Superior, covered approximately 130,000 acres, Forbes reported.

The National Weather Service issued air quality alerts for parts of New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and several Midwest states. ABC7 New York reported that conditions are not expected to be as severe as the June 2023 wildfire smoke event, when New York City briefly recorded some of the worst air pollution in the world.

The county recommends residents in sensitive groups stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces. ABC7 New York reported that health officials also recommend wearing an N95 mask if outdoor activity is unavoidable, closing windows, and running an air purifier or air conditioner to reduce indoor smoke exposure.

The Rye Free Reading Room is open as a cooling center for residents without access to air conditioning. A statewide list of cooling centers is available at health.ny.gov/environmental/weather/cooling.

Residents can monitor real-time air quality updates through the NYSDEC and New York State Department of Health websites.