Encroaching wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota has prompted the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to declare a statewide Code Purple Air Quality Alert for Friday.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
WHAT DO THE COLORS MEAN?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index (AQI) provides standardized color codes for air quality:
● Green – good air quality
● Yellow – moderate air quality
● Orange – unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups
● Red – unhealthy pollution levels for all
● Purple – very unhealthy pollution levels for all.
● Maroon – hazardous pollution levels.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota will blanket Pennsylvania on Friday, July 17, 2026, creating Code Purple concentrations of particulate matter, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says.
That designation, which is based on the amount of particulate matter in the air, means conditions are “very unhealthy,” state officials say, and all residents are encouraged to move their activities indoors.
It means that the smoke will create heavy concentrations of “PM2.5.” As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains, “PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air.”
What’s happening, and where?
According to The Associated Press smoke darkened skies in the U.S. on Thursday from the Great Lakes to parts of the East Coast, reducing visibility and prompting warnings that breathing the air outside could be dangerous.
NPR reports that wildfires and smoke are increasing across the country, and hotter temperatures and climate change are factors.
In neighboring New York, the state Department of Environmental Conservation warned that there was a potential for temporary spikes of “very unhealthy” air quality from Buffalo in the state’s western corner to Rochester by Lake Ontario, Syracuse in the central region, down to the greater New York City area, The Associated Press reported.
Individual alerts have been issued in many large cities around the country, including Philadelphia.
In New Jersey, Gov. Mikie Sherrill directed NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to make masks available to commuters.
Staying safe
“All residents should avoid long or intense outdoor activities, and sensitive groups such as children, elderly residents, and those with respiratory illnesses should avoid all outdoor activities,” a Pennsylvania DEP release states.
DEP says residents and businesses “are strongly encouraged” to voluntarily help reduce the pollution by:
● Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.
● Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials.
Where to learn more
● The City of Scranton has localized information on its website.
● Pennsylvania residents can learn more by visiting DEP’s Air Quality Partnership page.
● Residents anywhere across the nation can learn more about air quality in their areas by visiting the EPA’s AirNow site.
● The National Weather Service office in Binghamton, N.Y. announced an air quality alert for its entire coverage area, which includes Northeast Pennsylvania.
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Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad locomotive 2461 moves through the smog in Scranton on Thursday, July 16, 2026 as smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed the region, reducing visibility and diminishing air quality.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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A smoky Wilkes-Barre is seen from Kingston over the Market Street Bridge on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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The Christopher Columbus statue on Lackawanna County Courthouse Square in Scranton points to the haze-shrouded sun. on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News