Air quality news
Air Quality & Wildfire News — July 19, 2026
Canairy · 3 min read · 2026-07-19
After days of haze, weekend storms gave much of the East Coast a breather from Canadian wildfire smoke — but the relief may be temporary, and parts of the Midwest are still under alerts.
Storms clear the smoke from the DC region — for now
Air quality improved to the good-to-moderate range across the Washington, DC region Sunday morning after thunderstorms swept away much of the wildfire smoke that had lingered for days, as WTOP reports. Shifting winds could allow smoke from Canadian wildfires to return later Sunday, and AirNow.gov said people unusually sensitive to particle pollution should consider reducing their activity level or time spent outside.
Boston's air clears after overnight rain
A cold front brought rain to Massachusetts overnight and pushed out much of the smoke, according to NBC10 Boston. Air quality is improving through the day Sunday, with no issues expected by the afternoon and evening — a good window to get outside.
Maryland improves, but Western Maryland stays under Code Orange
Most of Maryland is seeing better air quality Sunday, though a Code Orange alert remains in effect for the higher elevations of Western Maryland, CBS News Baltimore reports. Forecasters there are also watching for a possible return of wildfire smoke later in the week as winds turn northerly.
Northern Illinois still hazy, with storms on the way
An Air Quality Alert remains in effect across northern Illinois Sunday as elevated levels of fine particulate matter from Canadian wildfire smoke linger over the region, Shaw Local reports. Attention is also turning to a potentially active round of severe thunderstorms Monday evening and overnight, with damaging winds the greatest threat.
How to keep indoor air clean when it's smoky outside
With smoke settling over cities for days at a time this summer, the Associated Press has a practical rundown on keeping the air inside your home clean, carried by WTOP. The advice: run central AC on recirculate with the best filter your system can handle (MERV 13 or higher is ideal), use a HEPA portable purifier if you have one, and consider a DIY box-fan filter — EPA scientists found they work about as well as a small commercial purifier. If you can only afford one filter, use it to create a "clean room" where you spend most of your time.
Sources
- area air quality improves after storms, but wildfire smoke could return — WTOP
- Air quality improves today with plenty of sunshine — NBC10 Boston
- Seasonable Temperatures Across Maryland for Sunday — CBS News
- Air Quality Alert in effect as damaging storms, heavy rain possible Monday night — Shaw Local Enewspapers
- How to keep the air inside your home clean during wildfires — WTOP
Canairy aggregates publicly reported air-quality and wildfire news and summarizes it in plain English, with links to the original sources. This is educational information, not medical or emergency advice. In a wildfire or air-quality emergency, follow guidance from local authorities.