BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Thursday's air quality in the Lehigh Valley is anticipated to improve slightly, although we are again under a code red air quality alert.
A third day of smoke-filled air caused by a massive number of wildfires in Canada has forced people inside and some cancellation of outdoor activities.
According to AirNow.gov, the air quality in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas remained at "hazardous" levels as of 5 a.m. on Thursday.
Forecasters say we will expect to experience smoky conditions for a few more days until a shift occurs over the weekend.
Here's what you should know about Thursday's municipal and school district activity status. This list will be updated.
Closures, cancellations and reopenings
- All Allentown pools and spray parks are closed, and there will be no city-run recreational activities Thursday, according to the city’s Twitter account.
- The Allentown Municipal Golf Course also shut down Thursday, though the 17th annual Allentown Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic Tournament & Lunch on Friday “is still scheduled to go on assuming air conditions improve,” according to the tweet.
- In Allentown, there is no paving scheduled for the rest of the week. The Public Works department is milling today and tomorrow, the city's Communication Manager Genesis Ortega said.
- Allentown city officials expect all “impacted services” to reopen Friday.
- Bethlehem City Hall is open and all operations and services are being provided as normal, according to the city's Business Administrator Eric R. Evans.
- Bethlehem City employees have been provided with PPE.
- The College Hill Presbyterian Church Strawberry Festival in Easton scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 8 has been moved indoors at 501 Brodhead Street due to air quality issues.