It’s not as bad as last summer, but wildfire smoke from far away is again sparking air quality alerts across the region.

After days of hazy skies, the Massachusetts Department of Environment Protection has issued an air quality alert for parts of the Bay State on Friday.

“Air is forecast to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including those with lung or heart disease, older adults, and children,” the state agency wrote on its website.

“Surface smoke from distant wildfires will continue to influence fine particle levels during the day,” MassDEP added. “Fine particle levels should average in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) range with highest levels expected in central and western areas.”

Sensitive children and adults are being told to limit prolonged outdoor activity.

The smoke is from wildfires way out in the western U.S. and in northwest Canada.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Ernesto is expected to track well southeast of New England this weekend, but it will bring rough surf and strong rip currents to south-facing ocean beaches.