New York Air Quality Alert: Canadian Wildfire Smoke

Is the air quality good in New York?

The air quality in most of New York State on Monday, July 15, 2026 is in the ranges of “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to “unhealthy”. Upstate New York is expected to be “unhealthy,” poor air quality that poses a health threat to all residents. In Lower Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island the air quality is expected to be “unhealthy for sensitive groups”

The areas of Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse  had unhealthy air quality. Canadian wildfires have prompted New York at one point on July 15 to be ranked the third most polluted major city in the world. Toronto, Canada was at one point ranked the most polluted global major city.

Air quality map of New York City, as of 7:00 PM (local time) on July 15, 2026. Source: IQAir.

Which other cities or areas are affected by wildfire smoke?

The cities and areas affected by wildfire smoke include:

Toronto, Ontario
Waterloo, Ontario
Owen Sound, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Guelph, Ontario
Brampton, Ontario
Burlington, Ontario
London, Ontario
Uxbridge, Ontario
East York, Ontario
Chicago, Illinois
Marquette, Michigan
Duluth, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Detroit, Michigan
Wausau, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Boston, Massachusetts
Providence, Rhode Island

In many cities across the U.S. states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the upper panhandle of Michigan, AQI levels have soared past 400, with Marquette, Michigan reaching an AQI of 902.

Smoke is contributing to poor air quality across much of southern Ontario, including the Greater Toronto Area, while a shifting weather pattern is expected to transport dense smoke into large parts of eastern Canada, the Great Lakes, the upper Midwest, and the northeastern United States. Areas beneath the thickest smoke plume may experience unhealthy air quality, reduced visibility, and increased health risks, particularly for sensitive groups.

What is causing poor air quality in New York?

New York’s poor air quality is primarily caused by smoke from wildfires in Ontario, Canada. More than 800 wildfires are actively burning across Canada, with numerous with little to no containment. Several fires have expanded rapidly over recent days, with some merging into larger complexes while others have crossed the international border from Minnesota into Ontario. Provincial firefighting resources continue to focus on protecting communities, critical infrastructure, and transportation corridors as additional crews arrive to assist with suppression efforts.

These fires have prompted New York at one point on July 15 to be ranked the third most polluted major city in the world. Toronto, Canada was at one point ranked the most polluted global major city.

Winds are expected to bring an expansive plume of wildfire smoke into the state, resulting in elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) spreading across Upstate New York through the remainder of the week. The chemical compounds found in wildfire smoke are also expected to increase ozone production downstate, as extreme heat continues to affect the northeastern United States.