Don’t let today’s sunshine and cloudless skies fool you. If you’re in Brooklyn, the Bronx, or anywhere across New York City, experts are urging you to stay indoors — because you’re breathing in air that could be quietly damaging your lungs.
A Health Advisory is in effect until 11 p.m. tonight (Wednesday) due to rising levels of ground-level ozone, a dangerous pollutant linked to heart and lung problems. While the sky might look calm, the invisible gases building up today can cause real health issues, especially for vulnerable groups.
So What’s Actually In the Air Today?
What we’re dealing with isn’t wildfire smoke — although some haze is visible. The bigger problem is ground-level ozone, which forms when sunlight interacts with pollution from cars, trucks, power plants, and industrial sources.
Add in warm temperatures, light winds, and a sun-drenched afternoon, and you’ve got a chemical cocktail that cooks up ozone right where we breathe.
This ozone isn’t the protective layer high up in the sky. It’s a ground-level irritant that can inflame the lungs, narrow airways, and make it hard to breathe — especially if you’re outside exercising, working, or just walking your dog.
Who Should Be Worried Today?
The health advisory isn’t for everyone — but millions of New Yorkers fall into groups who are strongly urged to take precautions.
Here’s who’s most at risk today:
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Children and teens, especially those active outdoors
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Seniors, whose lung function naturally decreases with age
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People with asthma, COPD, or chronic bronchitis
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Anyone with heart disease
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Pregnant individuals and people recovering from illness
If you’re in one of these groups — or caring for someone who is — this alert matters.
Symptoms to watch for include: shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, persistent coughing, and fatigue. If you feel any of these, take it seriously and rest indoors.
What You Should (And Shouldn’t) Do Right Now
To protect yourself and your loved ones, here’s what experts recommend:
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Avoid outdoor activities between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m., especially exercise or strenuous work
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Keep your windows shut — even if it feels nice outside
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Run your air conditioner if possible, with a clean air filter
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Reschedule outdoor plans and keep kids indoors for play
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Monitor air quality using your local forecast or EPA’s AirNow app
Remember: this isn’t just a comfort warning. For many New Yorkers, today’s air could trigger serious health episodes if ignored.
What About the Smoke from Wildfires?
There is still some upper-atmosphere haze from Canadian wildfires, which you might notice during sunrise or sunset. But it’s not the main reason for today’s air quality alert.
The true hazard is the chemical ozone reaction happening here at ground level — and that’s what’s making the air unhealthy right now.
When Will the Air Get Better?
The advisory ends at 11 p.m. tonight, and conditions are expected to slowly improve overnight as temperatures drop and winds pick up. But with summer heating up, similar ozone spikes could return any day — especially when skies are clear and temps climb.
