MassDEP Extends Air Quality Alert

08:30PM / Wednesday, June 07, 2023Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Department of Environmental Protection has extended a statewide air quality alert effective until midnight Thursday. The initial alert had been set to expire Wednesday night.

The hazy skies and acrid smell are coming from more than 400 forest fires in Canada. The haze has covered much of the Northeast and while the worst of the smoke is running through western and central New York State southeast to the Atlantic Coast, much of New England is feeling the effects.

The smoke is expected to impact the air quality of Western Mass on Wednesday. Air quality is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups that include people with heart or lung disease such as asthma, older adults, children, teenagers and people who are active outdoors. People with either lung disease or heart disease are at greater risk from exposure to ozone.

MassDEP is advising that people in sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take more breaks, do less intense activities, follow asthma action plans, and keep quick relief medicine handy. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. The state air quality site can be found here.

Everyone else should avoid strenuous activities and spend less time outdoors.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is rating air quality in the Berkshires as "unhealthy" for sensitive groups with North Berkshire having an air quality index of 150 and Central and South Berkshire 175. An air quality index over 200 is considered unhealthy for everyone.

The Tri-Town Boards of Health is recommending those with respiratory issues contact their physician.

Properly fitted N95 masks can filter out airborne particles such as dust, smoke and pollutants.

And here's the latest from Lower Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/2DlNtjCGEp
— New York Metro Weather (@nymetrowx) June 7, 2023

What's the smoke forecast?
* Another big plume will move into NYC this afternoon
* Could reach DC tonight into Thurs AM
* Another big plume in western Pa/Ohio may reach Mid-Atlantic Thurs night/Fri am
* Conditions may slowly improve after that
More: https://t.co/LgjN7mxogb pic.twitter.com/xPSlL6F78K
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) June 7, 2023

Worst air quality I've ever seen locally now in the western Catskills, Mohawk valley, and Capital Region, CODE PURPLE, Very Unhealthy. Limit time outdoors, keep windows closed pic.twitter.com/81eeLmYR9z
— Steve LaPointe (@CBS6Steve) June 7, 2023

Tags: air quality,

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Nor'easter Set to Drop Foot of Snow Over Berkshires

03:00PM / Sunday, February 22, 2026

Update on the powerful Nor'easter set to drop up to a foot of snow over the region. This come right on the tail Friday's storm that dropped up to 6 inches in some areas.

The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has shifted the winter storm warning issued from Saturday a few hours later; it now begins at 4 p.m. on Sunday but still runs through 7 p.m. on Monday for the Berkshires, eastern New York, Southern Vermont and northern Connecticut.

Heavy snow expected with total accumulations between 8 and 14 inches with some locally higher totals possible over the high peaks of the Catskills AND the Berkshires. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph.

The forecasted "bomb cyclone" is lining up to hit New York City with its first blizzard in a decade, but Western Mass will feel some of its effects.

The Berkshires will see flurries during the day but the Nor'easter will make its entrance later in the evening, first in South County between 5 and 8 and then moving north.

Vermont schoolchildren will be starting their winter vacation Monday but Berkshire kids will be headed back to school. But they might be getting an extra vacation day — Greylock Snow Day still has an 80 percent probability for of delays, but upgraded the chance of a snow to 90 percent for South County and 75 percent for north.

With the storm sweeping in by Sunday afternoon, we'll be on the lookout for any cancellations. This post will also be updated if new information becomes available.

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