An air quality alert is in effect in New Hampshire throughout Aug. 4 due to smoke from the ongoing Canadian wildfires, according to the National Weather Service.
The air is unhealthy for sensitive groups, like those with asthma, lung or heart disease, and older adults, the weather service said.
Those who could have trouble with the smoke should avoid being outdoors for extended periods, according to the NWS.
The alert will be in effect until 11 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4.
What the air quality will be like in New Hampshire
Smoke is expected to impact portions of New England most heavily from around 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the weather service said.
"A hazy sky is expected today due to smoke from a wildfire in Canada moving overhead," the weather service's Norton, Mass. office said in a Facebook post. "Some of this smoke may get close to the ground later this morning into this evening."
In Portsmouth, it is expected to be slightly windy, with a high temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit predicted.
A smoky haze is expected to envelop the area around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5.
Wildfire smoke map
https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/?lat=41.541&lon=-86.858&zoom=5
NH counties under air quality alert
Here are the New Hampshire counties where the air quality alert is in effect, according to the NWS:
Belknap County - all
Carroll County - northern and southern
Cheshire County - all
Coos County - northern and southern
Grafton County - northern and southern
Hillsborough County - eastern and central
Merrimack County - all
Rockingham County - interior and coastal
Strafford County - all
Sullivan County - all
What should you do during an air quality alert
Officials urged people to stay indoors to reduce exposure, and to limit strenuous activity. Exposure can cause short-term effects such as irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, along with coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath.
It can be particularly dangerous for people in sensitive groups, such as children, older people, and those with chronic health conditions.
In Canada, several wildfires are blazing uncontrolled, according to the country's natural resources department.
In early July, Manitoba's government declared a state of emergency for its historic fires.
Material from USA Today was used in this report.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Canadian wildfires causing air quality alert in NH. See smoke map
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