Pennsylvania Declares Code Purple Alert as Philadelphia AQI Hits 267 and Closes Pools
Updated
Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Jul 17
Pennsylvania Declares Code Purple Alert as Philadelphia AQI Hits 267 and Closes Pools
3 articles · Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Jul 17
Summary
Philadelphia shut pools and spraygrounds Friday and suspended trash pickup after the city’s air quality index hit 267 at 7 a.m., deep in the “very unhealthy” range under Pennsylvania’s Code Purple alert.
Canadian wildfire smoke from Western Ontario is expected to linger through at least Saturday afternoon, with shifting winds briefly pushing the thickest plume south before another resurgence Friday night, the National Weather Service said.
Chester recorded an AQI of 312 at 7 a.m.—a hazardous level for everyone—while New Jersey began handing out masks to commuters as air quality across the state also fell into unhealthy territory.
Thursday’s smoke already disrupted the region, prompting the Phillies to move their game up an hour as AQI climbed from 157 at first pitch to 192 by 9 p.m., obscuring the Center City skyline.