Hazy skies over Long Island caused by Canadian wildfire smoke

If it looks a little extra hazy outside, it’s not your imagination.

And it’s not a car fire somewhere around the block.

Smoke from wildfires burning in Canada has drifted into the Northeast, prompting the Suffolk County Department of Health to issue an air quality advisory for Wednesday.

Suffolk County notified residents of the advisory through its SuffolkAlert system Wednesday afternoon.

The smoky skies, which could linger into Thursday, are the result of Canadian wildfires, with weather patterns carrying the smoke south into portions of the Midwest and Northeast, according to the Associated Press.

The AP reported that intense smoke was expected to spread into parts of the East Coast by Wednesday afternoon, including the New England coast and northern Pennsylvania.

Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can cause coughing, shortness of breath, dizziness and fatigue, while potentially aggravating heart disease, lung disease and other chronic health conditions, according to the AP.

Children, older adults and people with heart or lung conditions can be especially vulnerable when air quality deteriorates.

Experts recommend reducing strenuous outdoor activity, keeping windows closed and using an air conditioner or air purifier when possible. Anyone who must spend extended time outdoors may also consider wearing a properly fitted N95 mask.

If this all feels familiar, that’s because it is.

Wednesday’s haze is bringing back memories of June 2023, when smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed Long Island and New York City, turning the sky orange and creating some of the worst air quality the region had experienced in years.

This time around, however, the haze over Long Island has not approached the dramatic, almost apocalyptic scenes residents witnessed three years ago.

Residents can monitor local conditions through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the federal AirNow website.

Top: Hazy skies over West Islip at 12:50 p.m. on Wednesady, July 15. (Credit: GLI/Mike White)