A Haze of "Hazardous" Smoke Is Currently Affecting the Air Quality in Sydney
Thick smoke from bushfires on the north coast and northern NSW is currently affecting large parts of the city.
Sydneysiders venturing outdoors this morning could find the whole breathing thing a little less fun than usual — as you may have noticed, it's pretty smoky out there. As the result of bushfires burning on the north coast and northern NSW, a layer of smoke has made its way across the city and is expected to stick around for the rest of the day.
Needless to say, it's affecting air quality, with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage labelling areas in Sydney's east, northwest and southeast as "very poor" and "hazardous" on the morning of Thursday, October 31. Those further out of the city are affected, too, with the Lower Hunter and Central Coast currently experiencing "hazardous" air quality and areas in the Illawarra "poor" to "very poor".
When the Air Quality Index reaches these levels, NSW Health suggests that everyone cut back on strenuous outdoor activities and those with chronic respiratory or heart conditions avoid all outdoor physical activity and stay indoors where possible. It's also advised that you carry your inhaler, follow your Asthma Action Plan and seek medical advice if you start experiencing symptoms.
This follows a smoky Wednesday, too, and the haze is unlikely to lift completely for another 24 hours, with the NSW Rural Fire Service continuing to battle numerous blazes across the state and northeasterly winds bringing smoke down towards the city.
As of 5pm yesterday, the NSW RFS was fighting 72 fires across the state, with 38 yet to be contained. A blaze near Port Macquarie had burnt more than 2500 hectares and one to the northwest, near Coffs Harbour, over 100,000 hectares. Both are being controlled.
You can keep an eye on the fires burning across the state at the NSW RFS website. For more tips on staying safe during smoky conditions, head to the NSW Health website.
