Posted: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 12:00 PM
Expires: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 4:00 PM
Poor air quality continues to expand across the Finger Lakes with most of the region now in the Red, “Unhealthy” zone. This classification is for Air Quality Index values between 150-199.
There has been some improvement starting to show up in the Rochester area as the narrow band of concentrated surface smoke slowly moves southeast.
Unfortunately, AQI values across the Upper Great Lakes region remain elevated, ranging from about 70-150, encompassing the Yellow (Moderate) and Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) zones with localized Red conditions.
In other words, even as the worst of this poor air moves through, the air quality is unlikely to ever be great today, and there will probably be on and off lingering effects for some time.
Air Quality Alerts, issued by the NYS DEC, are now in effect for the entire region.
While not as intense as the smoke event two years ago (also on June 7th, ironically), it is still worth taking precautions.
I have switched over to Purple Air for monitoring the AQI values (thanks, Mellie!) as the map updates much more frequently than the AirNow map and is easier to read. However, I did need to go into the settings and adjust a few parameters, like turning off the gradient shading of the data circles, which seemed to be overinflating the colors.
This link should provide direct access to our area using the parameters I set and used in the graphic for this blog:
Note: I am in no way affiliated with PurpleAir… just think their map is best for our general needs right now!
Juliette Corazón
Thanks so much, Drew, for these updates. High on West Hill in Ithaca, we’re still at 155. Hearing that it will continue helps me plan my evening. Grateful for you!
Amy Christopher
As of today I can’t seem to get your regular daily forecast which I look forward to.
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
Can you email me at drew@flxweather with more information:
– How did you use to “get” my forecast?
– What is the “regular daily forecast”? Blog posts? Zip code forecasts?
– What is happening today that is different?
Thanks so much! We’ll get this figured out.
Bruce Beem-Miller
Haze very noticeable in the neighborhood— can barely see from West Hill to East Hill above the city of Ithaca.
Nancy Healy
Interesting…my weather app says 120 for AQI in Honeoye, PurpleAir 136.
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
Depending on the weather app, it could be pulling data from elsewhere. But, AQI is going to vary by that amount over small distances, so the trends and zones are probably more important than the actual number.
Kelly Doolittle
Wow – looks pretty bad, Thank you so much for this update, Drew.