"Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Returns, Prompting Air Quality Alert in NY and NJ"

An Air Quality Alert has been issued for all of New York as drifting smoke from ongoing wildfires in Canada raises concerns about air quality. The alert also extends to certain counties in New Jersey. The forecast for Western New York, Central New York, and the Eastern Lake Ontario regions is 'Unhealthy' for all residents, while the rest of the state, including New York City and Long Island, is 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.' The smoke is expected to reach Eastern New York later in the day, prompting the distribution of masks to commuters at major transit hubs and state parks. The Midwest is also experiencing poor air quality due to the wildfire smoke, with parts of Illinois, lower Michigan, and southern Wisconsin having the worst air quality in the U.S. on Tuesday.