From NJ.com – Updated 9:44 AM; Today 9:33 AM

Areas shaded in dark gray are under an air quality alert on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. The alert was issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection . National Weather Service

By Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

For the second straight day, state environmental officials have issued an air quality alert for parts of New Jersey as smoke continues to drift over the state from massive wildfires that are burning in the western United States and western Canada.

The “code orange” alert was issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean counties. It remains in effect until midnight.

“A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups,” the alert says. “Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases, and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.”

Smoke from wildfires brought a hazy sunset in Bridgewater, N.J. July, 20, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Patrick O’Hara, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s regional forecast office in Mount Holly, said smoke and other particles from the western wildfires continue to travel thousands of miles along the jet stream, across the nation to the New Jersey region.

“The smoke is still pretty prevalent over the area,” O’Hara said Wednesday morning. “A lot of stuff that was over Michigan and Ontario a couple of days ago is gone from that area now and over our area.,

This map shows the air quality across New Jersey and other eastern states as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 21. Green indicates good air quality, yellow indicates moderate air quality, orange indicates air that is unhealthy for sensitive groups, and red indicates air that is unhealthy for anyone.AirNow | EPA, NOAA, NASA

Smoke from wildfires burning in the western United States and western Canada affects the sunset in Ocean City, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A cold front and scattered thunderstorms are expected to move across New Jersey Wednesday afternoon, and although that will likely cut down on the smoke, it might not completely push it out, O’Hara said.

Forecasters say some of Wednesday’s thunderstorms could be strong to severe, with heavy downpours, hail, and wind gusts as strong as 60 mph.

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