New York City had a weekend of mostly blue skies marred by acrid smoke and air-quality advisories after a series of brush fires, fueled by extremely dry conditions, erupted around the region. People sensitive to pollution were advised that the air quality through Sunday could be at unhealthy levels because of smoke and particulate matter.

Throughout the metro area any outdoor burning is strongly discouraged, according to the National Weather Service, and much of southwest Connecticut is on “red flag warning,” meaning that dry, fire-ready conditions along with high winds mean brush and wildfires can spark easily and grow quickly.

New York City officials issued an air quality alert Saturday morning amid several brushfires burning in the U.S. northeast, including one in Brooklyn's largest park the previous night. The city's Office of Emergency Management said the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecast to reach 101-150 on Saturday.

An air quality alert has been issued for New York City, the Hudson Valley and northern New Jersey through 12 a.m. Monday due to smoke from wildfires in the area.

Firefighters in New Jersey and New York were working to contain blazes fed by dry conditions and gusty wind.

The fire threat across the Northeast is increasing after Sunday night's rain provided little relief to long-term drought conditions, the FOX Forecast Center said.