NC air quality updates: The latest on smoke conditions, cancellations and more

UPDATE: For the latest on air quality for Friday, June 9, read our more recent story.

Air quality in the Triangle remained at unsafe levels on Thursday, as smoke from more than 400 wildfires in Canada continued to drift south into the United States.

The N.C. Division of Air Quality maintained Code Orange air quality warnings statewide throughout the day, a downgrade from Wednesday’s Code Red. Even with the lower level, older adults, children and those with respiratory problems should avoid prolonged time outside and limit exertion, such as work and exercise.

Code Orange on the air quality index is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” DAQ meteorologists said Thursday afternoon that areas in the Triangle and to the southeast are seeing particulate matter levels that meet Code Orange levels, while much of the state is in Code Yellow.

About 98 million people in 18 states, from New Hampshire to South Carolina, were under air quality alerts on Wednesday for both wildfire smoke and ozone, NBC News reported. Air quality in New York City was the worst in the world on Wednesday afternoon.

When will air quality be back to normal?

Much of North Carolina could reach Code Yellow levels of particulate matter Friday, according to the Thursday afternoon forecast.

The Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection is maintaining a Code Orange advisory for its nine-county region, but DAQ meteorologists expect air quality in the rest of the state to remain at “moderate” levels.

Ozone levels statewide are also expected to rise Friday because of sunny weather causing reactions among various chemicals found in the wildfire smoke.

The highest levels of ozone Friday are expected in Mecklenburg and Union counties. DAQ is issuing a Code Orange for ozone in those counties from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.

Like with the Code Orange for air quality, that means children, older adults and people with respiratory conditions should cut down on “prolonged or heavy” exercise outside. Those who work outdoors are also advised to reduce their exertion during a Code Orange for ozone.

Fine particulate matter and ozone levels are expected to remain in Code Yellow ranges Saturday before declining Sunday, according to DAQ meteorologists.

The change will happen because an area of low pressure off of New England that has been funneling smoke and wind south toward North Carolina is expected to move out to sea, allowing more typical west and southwestern winds to start up again.

Outdoor events canceled in Raleigh, Durham area

Public school systems announced precautions for students this week.

• Wake schools are limiting outdoor activities and rescheduling “intense outdoor activities” to another time. Coaches and teachers have been advised to “watch students for symptoms,” a spokesperson said.

• Durham schools are advising staff to “be sensitive to the needs of students and staff with respiratory conditions or other sensitivities,” a spokesperson said.

• Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools advised closing windows and running air purifiers, and there were limits on outside time (such as recess).

• Some neighborhood and community pools in the Raleigh area closed to keep lifeguards from being outside for prolonged periods of time.

Has the smoke affected flights at RDU?

The smoke has had a minor effect on flights at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

As of 3:30 p.m. Thursday, about a dozen departing flights were listed as delayed, including seven to cities in the Northeast. Those included flights to Baltimore, Newark, New York City and Washington, D.C.

A flight to Washington, D..C., was canceled Wednesday but not because of the wildfire smoke.

As always, RDU recommends checking with your airline for any changes to arrivals and departures.

In a Twitter message Thursday, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration said pilots rely on advanced navigation systems on their planes and on the ground to land when visibility is low. Those systems aren’t always effective when smoke or ash are in the air, said Kevin Morris, the spokesman.

That can lead to slower traffic or aircraft controllers leaving longer times between takeoffs and landings, Morris said.

NC DOT road crews still at work

The Department of Transportation on Wednesday had not paused construction or maintenance activities, said assistant communications director Aaron Moody.

“Our Safety and Risk Management unit has been actively monitoring this situation and has shared air quality guidance from the Department of Environmental Quality with NCDOT safety staff statewide,” he said.

N&O transportation reporter Richard Stradling contributed to this story.