Midwest and Northeast US Air Quality Alert

Is the air quality good in the Midwest and Northeast US?

As of July 16, 2026, air quality across a broad swath of the Midwest and Northeast United States has deteriorated sharply, with PM2.5 as the dominant pollutant driven by dense wildfire smoke descending to ground level (1).

By 12:30 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-5), many urban centers have recorded AQI readings between 100 and 700, ranging from unhealthy to hazardous levels and prompting health warnings.

Residents are strongly advised to limit outdoor activity, keep windows and doors sealed, wear a mask if going outside is unavoidable, and run air purifiers indoors.

Air quality map of the Midwest and Northeast US, as of 12:30 AM (EST) on July 16, 2026. Source: IQAir.

Which cities are affected by bad air quality in the Midwest and Northeast US?

As of July 16, 2026, the most severely impacted cities include:

Air quality conditions can change rapidly throughout the day. For a complete, real-time overview of pollution levels, see the United States air quality map.

Detroit, Minneapolis and New York ranked among the world's most polluted major cities as of 12:30 AM (EST) on July 16, 2026. Source: IQAir.

When will the air quality improve in the Midwest and Northeast US?

Air quality is expected to improve gradually by the weekend as shifting winds help disperse wildfire smoke (2).

However, periodic smoke episodes may continue over the next 10 days, with additional plumes possible as long as wildfires remain active in Minnesota and Canada (3).

What is causing poor air quality in the Midwest and Northeast US?

Poor air quality is primarily being caused by wildfire smoke from active fires in northeastern Minnesota and Ontario, Canada (4).

Hot, dry, and drought-stricken conditions have intensified the wildfire season, while a heat dome over the central U.S. is trapping smoke near the ground and carrying it southeastward, resulting in elevated PM2.5 levels across the Midwest and Northeast (5).