AZ smoke returns to central & western NM

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - That thick, smoky haze is going to be in New Mexico for a while and it has caused the Environmental Health Department to issue another health advisory.

The smoke from a massive wildfire in eastern Arizona, as well as periodic dust storms across New Mexico, could cause people to have difficulty breathing.

Officials said the elderly, infants, people who have asthma or heart disease and even healthy people may also be affected by the haze.

Officials with the national weather service many other parts of the state are experiencing high the haze much worse then in Albuquerque.

"If you think it’s going to be bad in Albuquerque go just 50 miles to the west and in some areas can just be really extreme,” Kerry Jones said. “So unfortunately the pattern is just not going to be working in our favor in the coming days."

Health officials said limit your time outdoors and keep windows and doors closed.

If you are having difficulty breathing, wheezing, or heart palpitations or chest pains, contact your doctor.

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Haze levels which substantially compromise visibility warrant an Air Quality Health Advisory. San Juan Basin Health Department advises that individuals in our community, particular those identified above, take health precautions when they notice the following condition:

• If visibility is less than 5 miles in your neighborhood due to a wildfire or controlled burn, smoke has reached levels that are potentially unhealthy.
• If smoke is thick or becomes noticeably thicker in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. For more info, see sjbhd.org/air-quality .