ALERTS: Air Quality Alert through at least midnight tonight for Westchester and Rockland counties

While today will be very warm and dry, the air quality will be poor and that may continue into tomorrow, too. This is all thanks to a significant wildfire that is still being battled in Ocean County, New Jersey. With more of a southerly wind this afternoon and evening, even though the wind if not terribly strong, wildfire smoke will drift into our local atmosphere.

This will cause a hazy look to the sky and increase the air quality index number to slightly over 100 in Westchester and Rockland counties. This equates to a lowered air quality that will impact people with asthma and other respiratory and heart conditions. Please reduce exertion and exposure to the lowered air quality if you have these issues today and possibly through tomorrow.

It will be dry and very warm through tomorrow. Beneficial rain moves in for Saturday. Unfortunately, this will ruin outdoor plans with steady rain now expected for much of the day. However, this will help alleviate the air quality concerns and should help firefighters in New Jersey battling the wildfire. The rain is also helpful for the moderate drought the lower Hudson Valley is still in.

Make outdoor plans for Sunday! Next week starts off nice and very warm until some spotty showers move through later in the day on Wednesday.

FORECAST:

TODAY: AIR QUALITY ALERT — Hazy sunshine. Air quality is reduced to levels that can affect those with sensitive respiratory issues due to a more southerly breeze this afternoon and evening drifting wildfire smoke from New Jersey into at least Westchester and Rockland Counties. Limit outdoor time if you have these health concerns. Otherwise, dry and very warm. Highs in the mid-70s to low 80s. Wind: southeast to southwest around 5 to 15 mph.

TONIGHT: AIR QUALITY ALERT — Partly cloudy with reduced air quality. Comfortable with lows near 56 degrees.

FRIDAY: A mix of sun and clouds. Air quality may still be reduced depending on the containment of the Ocean County, NJ wildfire. Highs around 78 degrees. Rain showers are likely overnight into Saturday. Wind: southwest 5 to 15 mph. Lows around 59 degrees.

SATURDAY: STORM WATCH — Scattered showers in the early morning become steady by mid-morning. Steady rain continues through the afternoon with slow improvements through the evening. Rain can be heavy at times. Flooding is not a major concern, but scattered ponding is possible with rain totals anywhere from 0.5 inches to 1.5 inches. Breezy with highs around 70 degrees. Lows near 46 degrees.

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Breezy. Highs around 65 degrees. Lows near 47 degrees.

MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs around 72 degrees. Lows near 51 degrees.

TUESDAY: Sun and clouds. Breezy. Highs around 78 degrees. Lows near 62 degrees.

WEDNESDAY: Early breaks of sun. Clouds increase with a few afternoon or evening rain showers possible. Highs are likely to reach the low 80s. Lows near 48 degrees.