With smoke from fires still hanging in the air, the air quality index in the New York area is expected to rise above 100 today, an “orange alert level.” That means the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups, including the elderly and pregnant people, children and people with chronic health problems.

At-risk groups are advised to limit time outdoors or stay indoors, use an air purifier if possible and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

Some relief could come as soon as Sunday evening, with up to a half inch of rain expected in the area, according to the National Weather Service. According to research, falling rain binds to pollutant particles in the air. That most significantly reduces air pollution while the rain is falling and generally improves air quality afterwards. Until then, however, the city remains alert to air quality.

According to the National Weather Service, outdoor burning is strongly discouraged in the metro area, and much of southwestern Connecticut is under a “red flag warning,” meaning dry, fire-hazard conditions along with high winds will fuel wildfires and forest fires can easily start. and grow quickly.

Mayor Eric Adams on Saturday banned grilling in public parks and urged New Yorkers to conserve water in light of the ongoing drought.

That drought warning will likely be upgraded in severity to a “drought warning” in the next two weeks, given the forecast for a mostly dry November and perhaps December, New York Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol said. In the warning phase, city agencies begin to take action based on the plans they started making during the drought watch.

New Yorkers should continue to conserve water in the event of rain, Iscol said, noting that the city’s Hudson Valley reservoirs are short of about 10 inches of rain, and that while rain in the city can help with air quality and fire risk , it will only rain further. north can refill the reservoirs.

“This is kind of the new normal for New Yorkers,” Iscol said. “We are living in a time of extreme weather and people need to be prepared.”

Wildfires in Prospect Park and South Brooklyn and wildfires in New York and New Jersey have caught New Yorkers by surprise and kept fire departments across the region busy. A State Parks employee died Saturday in a wildfire along the New York-New Jersey border, according to New York State Police.