No opening the windows anytime soon

[missdiane]

When you go to weather.com, this is what's on the splash page


They're not kidding. Here in Central NJ, it's what the sky looks like and it's like something out of one of those apocalypse sci fi films. I knew the air quality wasn't great and it was looking odd out and then I opened the door and it just smells like fire. I have the windows shut and AC on and two air cleaners running and my eyes and head hurts.

It's not supposed to be any better tomorrow. Normally when it gets cooler overnight, I'll open the windows so I can shut the AC off but I'll absolutely not be doing that until this stuff clears. I'll probably be going back into work on Thursday and you can bet I'll be masking up even with no people around.

EDIT: As I hit post, I just received an email from our local community to stay inside with your windows shut. Damn.

Comments

[halfmoon_mollie1]

yup. I guess it's not quite as bad here as there,

[missdiane]

Be careful what you wish for. Whew.

[threecee]

We aren't seeing the smoke here, just light haze, but have been on an Orange air quality alert all week and it is expected to last into next week. (Orange is avoid strenuous activity or exercise outdoors. People with heart or lung disease, children, and the elderly should avoid breathing outside.) The tree pollen and ragweed pollen is nasty anyway, so I've broken down and started using the AC even though the outdoor temperatures are comfortable.

[missdiane]

Right now we're in the red. The sun is out so it only looks...uh...yellow. You might want to check your area. https://www.airnow.gov/

Yeah, the tree pollen is still cranking as evidenced by the coating on my car each time I go out. Ugh.

Doing the same with the AC. I have a package arriving and a food delivery today and you can bet the door won't be open for long

[threecee]

We moved into the red quality alert last afternoon. I could smell the smoke when I went to get my meds from the mailbox.

We are now in the hazardous status, but it is expected that winds blowing toward the northeast, followed by rain will push it back to orange or red later today. Still hazy right now and still smells smoky.

Had to go outside this morning to kick the back gate open for the roofer and it was nasty out. I'm hoping the roofers can work to at least cover the leaky area before the next couple days since we are getting rain and I don't need a damaged ceiling.

[missdiane]

Yeah, we turned to the hazardous dark purple zone last evening. Our AQI was 495 at one point. Right now it's still in that zone but currently 311.

They're showing that the forecast today is for it to go south and west so you still might have a pretty yucky day today but Friday is supposed to improve for the whole region.

Not a good day to be a roofer, for sure. I hope they're masking up.

[threecee]

We're back to orange today and the smoke smell is gone. Still a lot of fires out of control in Quebec from the Canadian wildfire map, so better keep your mask in case the wind changes again.

Mask? Roofer? Nah, he was scampering up and down the two story ladder like a squirrel being chased by Moon. Wasn't even breathing hard afterwards and I was struggling just standing still on the doorstep for five minutes.

[missdiane]

We were orange in the morning, yellow in the afternoon and right now GREEN!!! I'm so looking forward to turning off the AC and opening the windows. I'm sure we're in for another round since they're still battling the fires up north but I intend to enjoy the nice air while it's around.

LOL Some people just have lucky lungs, I guess.

[threecee]

We are in the yellow today. That is the best it has been for a while, and I opened all the windows this morning. But now the pollen is higher so I'm coughing and have itchy eyes from that. Cat is also sneezing a lot. Can't win.

I'm not sure if the roofer has great lungs from all the climbing or is it is a case of what my dad used to call"no sense, no feeling".