The acrid aftertaste of this week’s smoky haze is on its way out for the weekend
Buh-bye smoke. Hasta luego Code Maroon, don’t let the screen door …
The veil is lifting.
Philadelphians are expected to wake Saturday to a haze-free, sunshiny day with a high near 82 degrees, and light winds helping swoosh out any lingering odor from Canadian wildfires — the first smoke-free day since Tuesday, and much warmer than Friday.
Though our neighbors to the north are still suffering from hundreds of wildfires spanning millions of acres, Philadelphians can thank a change in the weather for the relief, as a low pressure system finally pulls away from the area on Saturday. A high pressure system and change in wind direction should result in a reduction in any lingering smoke or haze, according to the National Weather Service.
“That very well may be it,” Matt Brudy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Office in Mount Holly, said of the near-surface smoke that exited Friday.
» READ MORE: The acrid aftertaste of this week’s smoky haze is on its way out for the weekend
— Frank Kummer, Anthony R. Wood, Rob Tornoe
Manco & Manco donates to Camden shelter after air quality cancels the Phillies game
After the Phillies’ Wednesday game was postponed because of poor air quality, Manco & Manco — which also acts as a Phillies ballpark vendor — donated its already made pizzas to a Camden shelter.
“While our entire region faced historic and dangerous air quality conditions, the Philadelphia Phillies organization made the right call to cancel that night’s game. Guess what happened next?” Joseph’s House of Camden shelter posted on its Facebook page. “Joseph’s House received a large donation from Manco & Manco Pizza — they sent us the pizzas they had already prepared for the baseball fans!”
Manco & Manco owner Charles Bangle said it all came together at the last minute and credits Jason Firestone, a senior director for the Phillies’ concessions provider, Aramark, for organizing it all.
“We always look to do stuff like this when we can. This just proved to be the right opportunity,” Bangle said. “We’re happy to see our delicious pizza put to good use.”
Bangle said between 350 and 400 pizzas — mostly cheese, along with some pepperoni and sausage — were donated to Joseph’s House as locals took shelter from the poor air quality.
» READ MORE: ‘Putting pizza to good use’: Manco & Manco donates to Camden shelter after air quality cancels the Phillies game
— Emily Bloch
Those smoke forecasts aren’t perfect
Dominick Mireles, director of Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management, took note of a similarity between winter-storm forecasts and what’s been happening around here this week.
“This is almost like a snowstorm for us,” he said Thursday. “We have a bit of a prediction, we understand how bad it could be, but the timing varies.”
Meteorologists say that the short-term computer models they are using to predict smoke concentrations overall have performed quite well, but they still have to live with the chaotic environment of the atmosphere.
The smoke from the Quebec fires is a three-dimensional phenomenon extending about 20,000 feet from the surface into the atmosphere, said Dave Dombek, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc. Subtle changes in winds hundreds of miles upstream can make a difference in the quantity of smoke we see here.
Plus, around here, forecasters are dealing with a learning curve. “This is the first time we’ve handled the product,” said Matt Brudy.
Upper-level wildfire smoke from the northwest is not uncommon in the skies over Philly. Ground-level smoke of this intensity from eastern Canada may well be unprecedented.
— Anthony R. Wood
Lost in the smoke, one splendid week
In terms of the actual weather, June weeks don’t get much better than this one in Philly.
It’s a shame that so many people were unable to get outside and savor it.
With daytime temperatures in the 70s, and nothing more than a stray shower, this could have been one remarkably pleasant run of days – save for the smoke.
“All things considered it would have been,” said Matt Brudy, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly. “If we could be in the upper 70s in June, sign me up.”
It would have a shade warmer without the smoke, he added. Daytime highs came in lower than forecast, and that was the result of the sun-blocking veil.
Temperatures have been below normal for seven consecutive day with only one reading above 80.
With the smoke due to depart and the winds shifting, temperatures could make a run at 90 on Sunday.
— Anthony R. Wood
Jersey Shore officials say smoke is clearing and they expect crowds on the beaches this weekend
After some strange, days of smoke over the sand and ocean, officials at the Jersey Shore say the beaches and boardwalks are quickly clearing for the weekend.
“It’s a real bluebird day down here,” Marty Frank, captain of the Cape May Beach Patrol, told the Inquirer Friday morning. “We’re expecting crowds.”
Jim Eberwine, a retired marine meteorologist with the National Weather Service office and an Atlantic County resident said “things are improving, quickly” at the Jersey Shore after very smoky conditions Thursday.
“There was smoke on the water, like a fog bank,” he said. “This is probably the longest, extended period of these smoky conditions I’ve seen in our area in 30 to 40 years. “
The National Weather Service weekend forecast for most shore towns, including Sea Isle City and Beach Haven, called for some haze on Saturday morning then mostly sunny through Sunday. On Friday morning, most of South Jersey’s air quality was fair to poor.
Air at the shore, specifically on the beach, will always be slightly better because of the Atlantic Ocean. Beachgoers should check air quality numbers and plan their day accordingly.
“You’re always going to be getting some ventilation at the beach,” Eberwine said.
» READ MORE: Jersey Shore officials say smoke is clearing and they expect crowds on the beaches this weekend
— Jason Nark
Philly had its worst ‘fine particle’ air pollution day on record
Yesterday was Philadelphia’s worst day for ‘fine particle’ air quality since records began in 1999. The Environmental Protection Agency collects data on fine particles, known as PM2.5, with gauges scattered through the city.
That data informs the air quality index, with a higher score meaning worse air quality. Color codes for bands within the index are used to reflect risk.
The highest Philadelphia had previously reached was the ‘very unhealthy’ level. This has only happened twice before, with the most recent being a seven-alarm warehouse fire that broke out in Frankford in April 2008.
However, Philly’s AQI reached historically unprecedented ‘hazardous’ levels on Wednesday and Thursday. Peaking Thursday morning with an AQI rating of 434. Exposure at that level is the equivalent to smoking one cigarette per hour.
» READ MORE: Charting Philadelphia’s worst ‘fine particle’ air pollution day on record
— Jasen Lo, Frank Kummer, Charmaine Runes, and Sam Morris
Philly to resume trash collection, other services
With the air quality improving, Philadelphia is expected to resume all operations as usual, the city announced Friday morning.
Trash and recycling materials not collected on Thursday will be picked up Friday, along with materials normally collected on Friday routes. The city said crews will be working through Saturday to pick up any delayed trash and recycling collection.
Other services that will resume Friday include paving, traffic, street lighting, and street repairs.
Despite the increased air quality, Philadelphia remains under an air quality alert, and warned sensitive groups – including children, elderly people, people who are pregnant, and those with respiratory diseases or heart conditions – to continue taking precautions to protect themselves.
“Wildfires in Canada are still burning, so it is important that residents continue to stay alert for updates,” the city said in a statement.
— Rob Tornoe
Weather service: ‘That very well may be it’ for the smoke
Skies may remain hazy for awhile into the weekend, but the eye-irritating near-surface smoke should be exiting the region sometime Friday evening.
”That very well may be it,” said Matt Brudy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Office in Mount Holly.
That’s the prognosis based on what’s happening upstream and the latest computer guidance. The smoke has been driven southward from Quebec by north winds circulating around an area of persistent low pressure that was centered over New England.
That thing finally is moving and winds should pivot to a more westerly direction that would drive the smoke eastward on Saturday.
Some higher-level milky haze may linger in the skies at least on Saturday, but do expect to see some blue both days of the weekend.
—Anthony R. Wood
Philly’s air quality continues to improve
Philadelphia’s air quality continues to improve Friday morning, as smoke from Canadian wildfires begins to dissipate from the air across the region.
The air quality index value was 131 as of 6 a.m., poor enough to be considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups” but well below the maroon “hazardous” range Philadelphia reached on Thursday.
The highest concentrations of smoke for Philadelphia on Friday are expected this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service, though not as extreme as previous days.
Some scattered showers and a few thunderstorms are also expected to move through the region Friday afternoon and evening.
— Rob Tornoe
Wildfire smoke hasn’t packed Philly’s emergency departments with patients
Tara Mott hadn’t even heard about the wildfires in Canada when she started feeling tightness in her chest.
She’s had asthma since she was 7, and on some days it was so severe she needed an array of drugs from multiple inhalers. Seeing new doctors at Jefferson Health three years ago helped the 24-year-old New Jersey woman find a treatment regimen that usually keeps her symptoms under control. This week, though, it wasn’t enough.
“No matter how many times I would take my inhaler, it really wasn’t doing the job,” said Mott, who works as an actuarial analyst in Center City.
When she learned about the fires up north, she understood why.
Emergency departments throughout the Philadelphia region were on alert Thursday for an influx of patients struggling to breathe, though as of the afternoon, most had not seen an increase in cases. Still, doctors warned that the danger hasn’t passed for those vulnerable to air quality issues: inflammation can take a few days to build up before becoming problematic for people with asthma.
» READ MORE: Wildfire smoke hasn’t packed Philly’s emergency departments with patients, but physicians say the risk isn’t over yet
— Abraham Gutman and Aubrey Whelan
Philly schools to shift to virtual instruction Friday as air-quality issues continue
Philadelphia School District buildings will be closed to students Friday, with classes held virtually, as air-quality issues continue to plague the region.
Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. said in an email sent to school communities Thursday that the move was happening “out of an abundance of caution for the health of students” and said pupils should “prepare to log in for remote learning.”
Employees, including those based in schools and at central office, are expected to report to their normal work location.
Citywide, many elementary school move-up ceremonies and middle and high school graduations are planned for Friday; those ceremonies will proceed as scheduled, Watlington said.
» READ MORE: Philly schools to shift to virtual instruction Friday as air-quality issues continue
— Kristen A. Graham
The smoke forecast have been fluctuating, but consensus is the worst is over
While it may not be entirely smoke-less, forecasters said Thursday that a punitive workweek of a disruptive haze that has imposed something akin to surreal snow days on the Philly region was likely to yield to an overall decent weekend.
As a bonus, come Monday, the parched foliage might even get a healthy dousing of rain, a phenomenon almost as rare as blue skies these days around here.
“It seems like things are gradually on the up and up,” said Alex Dodd, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly.
Unhealthy smoke levels are forecast to persist Friday, with yet another air quality alert in effect, and those with respiratory and heart conditions are urged to be especially careful.
Philadelphia School District buildings will be closed to students Friday, with classes held virtually.
But the particulate levels are not expected to rival the extremes of late Wednesday and early Thursday.
» READ MORE: Wildfire smoke disrupted life in Philly this week and will linger Friday, but forecasters say the weekend should be decent
— Anthony R. Wood, Ximena Conde, Rob Tornoe