The National Weather Service issued an air quality warning over the Vineyard and much of New England Tuesday due to smoke blown over from wildfires in Quebec.
The fine, airborne particulates have cast a dull haze over much of the Island and pose an increased risk to those with respiratory illnesses or other health challenges. Exposure to air pollutants may cause headaches, irritated eyes, throat, and sinuses, increased coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. The air quality warning is expected to continue until midnight.
This is the second time in as many weeks that mainland wildfires have affected air quality on the Vineyard. Last week, Edgartown officials sent out a mass text assuring residents that a pervasive, smoky scent in the air was caused by wildfires in Nova Scotia, not by any fire on-Island.
In a social media post Tuesday, the weather service warned New England residents to check their current local air quality before spending time outside.
“Make sure you aren’t doing yourself more harm than good,” the post stated.
