N.J. weather: Wildfire smoke, ground pollution spark air quality alerts for 16 counties – NJ.com

Some of the hazy, smoky air that drifted across New Jersey last week because of the western wildfires has returned Tuesday morning, along with ground-level pollution from the hot weather — prompting air quality alerts to be issued in 16 counties across the state.

The “code orange” air quality alerts were activated by the state Department of Environmental Protection at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and will remain in effect until midnight in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties.

Air quality alerts were later issued in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties, effective until 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Officials say the concentrations of air pollution have reached levels that could be dangerous for sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly, or people of any age who suffer from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases.

“The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors,” the air quality alerts say.

Although the alerts don’t specifically mention the wildfire smoke, current maps from the Environmental Protection Agency show smoke hovering over many parts of the northeastern United States, including New Jersey.

In addition, ground-level ozone levels are running high in some areas because of the intense heat, with temperatures already in the upper 80s and expected to climb into the 90s Tuesday afternoon, said Valerie Meola, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s regional forecast office in New Jersey.

Air quality alerts are issued by the state DEP, but are passed along by the National Weather Service for rapid communication to the public. The DEP could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday morning.

Air quality readings

UPDATE (1:20 p.m.): As of early Tuesday afternoon, only three of the state’s monitoring stations were reporting air quality index values classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups:

• Bayonne in Hudson County — index value of 119
• Newark in Essex County — index value of 111
• Clarksboro in Gloucester County — index value of 107

These monitoring stations were reporting moderate air pollution levels:

• Camden in Camden County — index value of 93
• Toms River in Ocean County — index value of 92
• Flemington in Hunterdon County — index value of 89
• Rutgers in New Brunswick, Middlesex County — index value of 89
• Rahway in Union County — index value of 85
• Millville in Cumberland County — index value of 84
• Brigantine in Atlantic County — index value of 83
• Columbia in Warren County — index value of 82
• Rider University in Mercer County — index value of 80
• Fort Lee in Bergen County — index value of 78
• Trenton in Mercer County — index value of 72
• Chester in Morris County — index value of 71
• Colliers Mills in Jackson, Ocean County — index value of 71

Index values of 0 to 50 are considered good, with air quality deemed as satisfactory and air pollution posing little or no risk, according to the EPA.

Index values of 51 to 100 are considered moderate, with air quality deemed as acceptable. However, “for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution,” the EPA says.

Index values of 101 to 150 are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, including active adults, people with heart or lung disease (including asthma), older adults and children.

Index values of 151 to 200 are considered unhealthy for all people, the EPA says. “Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.”

Multiple air quality alerts were issued last Tuesday and Wednesday, when smoke and tiny soot particles from the massive wildfires in the western United States and western Canada rose into the jet stream and dipped down low over New Jersey and other eastern states.

Much clearer air returned later last week and during the weekend in the Garden State, because of a shift in the weather pattern and the direction of air currents, forecasters said.

However, the jet stream has shifted again on Tuesday and winds are generally blowing from the northwest, causing some smoke and haze to return to parts of New Jersey, primarily the southern half.

Current weather radar

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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.