New York City’s air quality index hit 289 at 10 p.m. on July 16, 2026. Smoke from more than 100 Ontario wildfires drove the spike during a heat emergency. Only June 2023, at 465, ranks higher.
We built this guide from NYC Emergency Management’s hour-by-hour record of that event, AirNow and NOAA map documentation, and our 47-household filter tracking at HVACClarity.com.
TL;DR Quick Answers on NYC Wildfire Smoke Today
Base smoke decisions on ground-level PM2.5 readings, since satellite plumes can sit high above the city. At AQI 101 and above, close windows and set your AC to recirculate. Then filter one room.
- Where is the live map? Filterbuy’s NYC map and the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map, both linked below.
- When should you act? At AQI 101 for sensitive groups and 151 for everyone.
- Where do alerts come from? NYSDEC forecasts and Notify NYC texts.
Top Takeaways
- Read the dots first. Ground monitors measure the air you breathe.
- Watch the trend label. The NowCast AQI can lag a fast-moving plume.
- Radiator apartments need room filtration. A box fan with a 4-inch MERV 13 filter and shroud delivered 123% more clean air in EPA tests.
Where Can You See a Live NYC Wildfire Smoke Map Today?
Filterbuy is a U.S. manufacturer of HVAC air filters that publishes free live wildfire and smoke maps for U.S. cities, including New York City. Filterbuy’s live New York City wildfire and smoke map pulls U.S. fire data from WFIGS and the National Interagency Fire Center, Canadian fire data from Natural Resources Canada’s CWFIS, and smoke plumes from the NOAA/NESDIS Hazard Mapping System, then displays AQI across the five boroughs.
The EPA’s AirNow Fire and Smoke Map adds corrected sensor readings to official monitors.
Our recommendation: When the maps disagree, trust the ground reading closest to you.
How Do You Read a Wildfire Smoke Map Without Misjudging the Risk?
Fire icons mark fires. Plumes mark smoke overhead. Colored dots mark street-level air and should guide you.
Smoke Plumes Show Where Smoke Sits Overhead
The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map FAQ notes that a plume may never reach ground-level air. In our review of NOAA and AirNow timing, a gray smear over Manhattan at 9 a.m. often reflected the previous afternoon’s satellite pass.
Ground Dots Show What You Breathe
Tap the dot closest to your block. A Red Hook sensor and a Riverdale sensor can disagree on the same afternoon.
The NowCast Trails Fast-Moving Smoke
The NowCast blends several hours of data, so it climbs a step behind your nose. If you smell smoke and the map reads yellow, close the windows now.
What the July 2026 record taught us: AQI eased from 289 to about 120, then climbed back to 186. Wait for a stable trend.
When Does Each NYC Smoke Data Source Update?
- AirNow trend label: About the last 30 minutes. Use it for the next hour.
- Monitor dots: Hourly. Use them for the rest of the day.
- NOAA smoke analysis: Late morning and evening. Filterbuy’s map draws its smoke layer from it.
- NYSDEC forecast: Daily. Use it to plan tomorrow.
What Do NYC PM2.5 Levels Mean at Each AQI Level?
EPA tightened the scale in 2024, so PM2.5 of 9.1 µg/m³ now counts as Moderate.
| AQI Category | PM2.5 (µg/m³, 24-hr) | What to Do at Home |
|---|---|---|
| Good (0 to 50) | 0 to 9.0 | Open windows freely. |
| Moderate (51 to 100) | 9.1 to 35.4 | Sensitive groups ease off outdoor workouts. |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101 to 150) | 35.5 to 55.4 | Close windows. Set the AC to recirculate. |
| Unhealthy (151 to 200) | 55.5 to 125.4 | Everyone limits outdoor time. Filter one room. |
| Very Unhealthy (201 to 300) | 125.5 to 225.4 | Stay in the clean room. Skip frying and candles. |
| Hazardous (301 and higher) | 225.5 and higher | Follow city guidance. Wear an N95 outside. |
Source: EPA, 2024 AQI for Fine Particle Pollution fact sheet.
Is It Safe to Go Outside in NYC During Wildfire Smoke?
At AQI 100 or below, most people can keep normal routines. At 101 to 150, sensitive groups should keep outdoor activity shorter and lighter. Above 150, everyone should cut outdoor exertion.
NYC officials warned in July 2026 that no one is immune to smoke, so wear a well-fitted N95 or KN95 outside. Our guide to the long-term health effects of wildfire smoke at home covers repeated exposure.
How Do You Protect Indoor Air in an NYC Apartment Without Central Air?
The furnace-fan advice in most smoke guides we reviewed does nothing in a radiator apartment, so match your response to your equipment.
Window and Through-Wall AC Units
EPA advises closing the outdoor intake or switching to recirculate. Find the lever marked “Vent” or “Fresh Air,” close it, and check the side seals. Keep the AC on during heat. No AC? Use the NYC Cool Options map or call 311 to find a cooling center.
Buildings With Central Systems You Don’t Control
Ask your super what MERV rating the system runs. EPA recommends MERV 13 or higher during smoke.
Radiator Apartments With No Ducts
Use a portable HEPA cleaner or a DIY box fan with a MERV 13 filter. EPA research on DIY air cleaners found a 4-inch filter plus a cardboard shroud delivered 123% more clean air than a basic setup. Use a certified box fan made in 2012 or later.
Sizing tip: Match the cleaner’s CADR to the room’s square footage. A shrouded 1-inch build measured about 156, enough for a 144-square-foot bedroom.
Ducted Homes and Townhouses
Install MERV 13 or the highest rating your system handles. Set the fan to On and close any fresh-air damper.
How Can You Tell If Your Filter Is Actually Catching Smoke?
Look at it. EPA advises checking DIY filters daily during smoke and replacing them once they turn dark. A filter that stays white after two smoky days is letting air slip around it.
Across 47 households over 18 months, we found most filters needed replacement every 30 to 45 days. Our tracking of how high-AQI days shorten filter life found replacement came up to 40 percent sooner above AQI 100.
- Hold the filter up to a light. If light barely passes through, replace it.
- Check the frame edges. Any gap lets smoke bypass the media.
- Feel the vents. Weak airflow after switching to MERV 13 means your system is straining.
“Across our 47-household tracking, the homes that stayed ahead of bad-air days checked the filter whenever the map changed color. A two-minute light test tells you more than any manufacturer timeline.”
How Do You Check the New York City Smoke Forecast and Air Quality Alerts?
NYSDEC issues an Air Quality Health Advisory whenever it forecasts an AQI above 100. Its NYC Metro number includes Rockland and Westchester, so your block may read lower. Text NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 for Notify NYC alerts.
In November 2024, brush fires across New Jersey and the Hudson Valley region triggered a city alert.
“On smoke-day service calls, I check the window unit’s fresh-air vent and the gaps around the filter frame before I look at the MERV rating, because those two spots let in most of the smoke I find indoors. A MERV 13 filter can only clean the air that actually passes through it, so close the vent and seal the edges. Then check the filter every day until the air clears.”
Essential Resources for Tracking NYC Wildfire Smoke and Protecting Your Home
Check the Air on Your Block Right Now: AirNow Fire and Smoke Map
The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map, run by the EPA and U.S. Forest Service, shows corrected PurpleAir and Clarity sensor readings alongside official PM2.5 monitors. Its trend label tells you whether air quality near you is getting better or worse.
Source: AirNow Fire and Smoke Map
Plan Tomorrow Before the Smoke Arrives: NYSDEC Air Quality Index Forecast
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation publishes a daily AQI forecast for the NYC Metro region, which covers New York City, Rockland, and Westchester. DEC issues an Air Quality Health Advisory whenever it forecasts an AQI above 100.
Source: NYSDEC Air Quality Index Forecast and Current Observations
Get the Official Alert the Moment It Posts: National Weather Service New York, NY
The National Weather Service office in Upton relays the official Air Quality Alerts that state environmental agencies issue for the five boroughs and the tri-state area. The page also links to local air quality forecasts in one place.
Source: National Weather Service New York, NY Air Quality Page
Know Who in Your Household Needs Extra Protection: CDC Wildfire Smoke Safety Guidelines
The CDC identifies the groups most at risk from smoke, including children, pregnant people, and anyone with asthma, COPD, or heart disease. It also recommends N95 or P100 respirators for anyone who must go outside.
Source: CDC Safety Guidelines for Wildfires and Wildfire Smoke
Turn One Room Into a Smoke-Free Refuge: EPA Clean Room Guide
The EPA clean room guide shows how to set a window air conditioner to recirculate, choose a portable air cleaner, and build a safe DIY box fan filter. EPA publishes the guide in nine languages, which helps multilingual NYC households.
Source: EPA: Create a Clean Room to Protect Indoor Air Quality During a Wildfire
Understand What the Smoke Layer Actually Shows: NOAA Hazard Mapping System
The NOAA Hazard Mapping System supplies the smoke layer behind most live maps, including Filterbuy. It posts fire detections by about 8 a.m. Eastern and updates smoke outlines in late morning and again in the evening, which tells you how fresh a map’s smoke layer is.
Source: NOAA Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke Product
3 Supporting Statistics That Show Why NYC Smoke Days Demand a Plan
1. NYC’s Second-Worst Smoke Day Hit During a Heat Emergency
- The stat: NYC’s AQI peaked at 289 on July 16, 2026, behind only June 2023’s 465.
- Why it matters: Heat and smoke arrive together, so keep the AC on recirculation.
- Source: NYC Emergency Management
2. Asthma ER Visits Nearly Doubled at the June 2023 Smoke Peak
- The stat: NYC asthma ER visits hit 335 on June 7, 2023, up from 188 a day, as PM2.5 reached 146 µg/m³.
- The perspective: A heavy pollen day that April drew 302.
- Source: NYU Langone Health
3. Queens Logs Unhealthy Particle Pollution Days Every Year
- The stat: Queens earned a D for short-term particle pollution in 2026, with 2.8 unhealthy days a year.
- Why it matters: A MERV 13 filter helps on ordinary bad-air days too.
- Source: American Lung Association, State of the Air 2026
Final Thoughts: Read the Right Layer, Then Protect the Right Room
The bottom line: Trust ground-level dots over satellite plumes, and act at AQI 101 if anyone in your home belongs to a sensitive group.
Our take: After working through the July 2026 record, we see NYC’s smoke risk as a heat-and-smoke risk. Keep the cooling on and filter one room well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a Wildfire Near New York City Today?
Check Filterbuy’s NYC map or the AirNow map for fire icons. Most smoke here drifts from Canadian fires far to the north.
Why Does My Weather App Show a Different AQI Than AirNow?
NYSDEC notes most app readings are short-term measurements. Use the nearest AirNow monitor for health decisions.
Can I Run My Window Air Conditioner During Wildfire Smoke?
Yes. EPA recommends staying cool once you close the outdoor intake or switch to recirculate.
When Can I Open the Windows After the Smoke Clears?
Wait until the nearest monitor reads AQI 50 or below with a stable trend. Replace any gray filter at that point.
Do I Need an Air Purifier If My Building Runs MERV 13 Filters?
A room purifier still helps. Central filtration works only while the system runs, and older apartments leak outdoor air.
Get Your Apartment Smoke-Ready Before the Next Advisory
Pick your clean room and buy two spare filters before fire season. Then sign up for Notify NYC and explore our HVACClarity Air Quality guides.
Glossary: NYC Wildfire Smoke Terms
- AQI: EPA’s 0-to-500 scale for air pollution health risk.
- PM2.5: Particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller, the main threat in smoke.
- NowCast: EPA’s estimate of the current hour’s AQI.
- Hazard Mapping System (HMS): NOAA’s satellite analysis of fires and smoke.
- MERV 13: EPA’s recommended minimum HVAC filter rating during smoke.
- CADR: How much filtered air a room air cleaner delivers.
- Filterbuy: Filterbuy is a U.S. manufacturer of HVAC air filters that publishes free live wildfire and smoke maps for U.S. cities, including New York City.