Friday, July 17, 2026 is a Code Purple Air Quality Emergency Day for particulate matter. This means that the air is very unhealthy and that everyone may experience negative health effects from particulate matter in the air. Members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease (including asthma), older adults, children, pregnant people, immunocompromised people, people experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs, people without access to air filtration, and outdoor workers.
How to stay safe
The Health Department recommends that all residents take precautions to protect themselves. If you experience symptoms including trouble breathing, heart palpitations, nausea, or dizziness, seek immediate medical attention
All residents should avoid optional outdoor activities during a Code Purple Air Quality Alert. Reschedule those activities to a time when air quality is better or move activities indoors. If you must go outside, wear a high-quality mask, like an N-95 or KN-95. Surgical masks, cloth masks, gaiters, and bandanas will not provide adequate protection
Sensitive groups should take extra care to protect themselves from dangerous air. This includes people with heart or lung disease (including asthma), older adults, children, pregnant people, immunocompromised people, people experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs, people without access to air filtration, and outdoor workers
To keep indoor air clean, you can:
- Stay inside with doors and windows closed.
- If you have air conditioning, set it to recirculate mode. If your air conditioner does not have a recirculation mode, turn it off.
- Avoid activities that create more particulate matter indoors, including:
- Smoking and vaping.
- Using gas, propane or wood-burning stoves and furnaces.
- Spraying aerosol products.
- Frying or broiling food.
- Burning candles or incense.
- Vacuuming, unless you use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
Updates to City services
The City is open and operating as usual, with some service changes. On Friday, July 17, trash pickup is suspended and pools and spraygrounds are closed
Free Library of Philadelphia locations will continue to be open during normal operating hours for people who may need to access air-conditioned facilities
Know your risk
To see the current air quality at the City’s air quality monitors near you, please visit www.phila.gov/breathephilly
Stay informed
Follow the Health Department and the Office of Emergency Management on social media. For the latest updates, sign up for ReadyPhiladelphia by texting READYPHILA to 888-777, or by visiting www.phila.gov/ready
What’s going on?
Wildfires in Canada have blown smoke south into the United States. On Thursday, July 16, Philadelphia was under a Code Red Air Quality Alert for particulate matter. That evening, due to a change in the wind, the air quality in Philadelphia got much worse, with many BreathePhilly monitors reporting very unhealthy air. In response to those air quality values, the City moved into a Code Purple Air Quality Alert
Who is at risk?
Everyone is at risk. Members of sensitive groups are at higher risk of health impacts from poor air quality
How long will this last?
The Health Department is hopeful that the air quality will begin to improve on Friday afternoon, but that may change. It is expected that rain on Saturday will bring our air quality levels back to normal
Residents are encouraged to check their nearest BreathePhilly monitor to find out the air quality in their neighborhood
