Another smoky day in Western New York

But it shouldn’t be as bad as it was on Wednesday.

A statewide air quality health advisory was in effect for a second day in a row as plumes of smoke from over 200 wildfires burning across Canada blanketed much of the Midwest and East Coast.

The good news is that the smoke is expected to be less dense Thursday.

The AirNow website of the Environmental Protection Agency reported the air quality index Thursday morning as in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” By noon it worsened to “unhealthy.” People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens should reduce their exposure to outdoor air by avoiding strenuous activity outside or keeping outdoor activities short.

Wednesday evening, the conditions in Buffalo hit the “very unhealthy” category for a few hours.

Weather patterns are expected to change overnight Thursday. While the smoke will dissipate, it will be replaced by humid weather and scattered showers and storms over the holiday weekend, the National Weather Service said.