Poor air quality due to Canadian wildfire smoke around Southwestern PA has led to several closures and warnings and an unprecedented air quality alert.
Allegheny County has announced a “Code Maroon” or “hazardous” day as “conditions have gotten progressively worse throughout the afternoon.”
Maroon is worst rating on the list, according to the EPA, meaning everyone should avoid being outside.
The Health Department recommends that all outdoor activities for the rest of the day and “potentially tomorrow” be canceled.
The DEP has also issued a code "purple" air quality alert for Friday across all of Pennsylvania. Purple is the second-to-highest code, right below maroon.
The City of Pittsburgh has announced that all pools will be closed “due to air quality concerns.”
Allegheny County pools are closed as well.
Other community pools that have closed include Robinson Township and Green Tree.
Other outdoor events have been canceled for Thursday evening and in Philadelphia, the start of the Phillies game has been moved up as smoke approaches the eastern part of Pennsylvania.
If you have any outdoor events planned, experts are asking you to consider postponing or canceling due to the poor air quality.
KDKA-TV meteorologist Ray Petelin says the current smoke descending on Pittsburgh is “worse than 2023” and that it will get “worse” through Thursday night and into Friday.
Anyone that has to go outside is urged to wear an N95 mask or limit time outdoors.
The majority of the smoke is coming from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota.
Data provided by the Government of Canada showed that a total of 51 new fires were reported Wednesday.
Year-to-date statistics from Canada showed 102 out-of-control wildfires and a grand total of 837 in the country, covering more than 2.3 million hectares.
U.S. AirNow maps show a concentration of Canadian wildfires near the Minnesota border.
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