Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Air quality across the Philadelphia was poor the morning of July 17, 2026, due to wildfire smoke from Canada, with most of the area in the “very unhealthy” zone.

The city of Chester was among the worse, hitting an air quality index of 312 at 7 a.m. Friday. A reading over 300 is considered "hazardous," with air quality so poor it could be dangerous to everyone.

By 9 a.m., the number dipped down a bit to 279, solidly in the "very unhealthy" category.

An air quality station in Philadelphia The Inquirer is tracking peaked at 291 Thursday night, but had dropped to 250 by Friday morning.

For live updates, head here: inquirer.com/weather/live/philadelphia-wildfire-smoke-timing-forecast-heat-20260717.html?utm_campaign=edit_youtube_traffic&int_promo=newsroom

📝 by Rob Tornoe and Stephen Stirling / Staff
📹 by Gabe Coffey / Staff

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