City Guide
New York City AQI planning guide
New York City decisions are usually about whether today is routine, cautionary, or strong enough to change the plan for the next few hours.
Planning AQI
88
24-hour equivalent
1.35
cigarettes per day
Category
Moderate
Live AQI and forecast
Live readings and forecasts come from the US EPA AirNow network. Forecasts are useful for planning, but local smoke shifts can still change conditions quickly.
Current reading
41
Good
Northeast Urban, NJ • 2026-06-23 22:00 EST
Planning baseline
AQI 88
Use AQI 88 as a familiar starting point when you compare today with a routine or cautionary day.
Live layer
AirNow + fallback
Current observations improve the page when available, but the planning layer still works if the API is slow or unavailable.
Useful scenarios
3
These are the scenario pages most likely to matter when the reading changes your plan.
Upcoming forecast
2026-06-24
AQI 45
Good
6/23 - Low pressure will depart the area on Tuesday, with light and variable winds, cloudy skies, and a chance for scattered rain showers expected. As a result, fine particulate levels will remain in the moderate category along the I-95 corridor and ozone will remain in the good category statewide. 6/24 - High pressure will begin to build into the region on Wednesday, with northwest to west winds and mostly sunny skies anticipated. As a result, ozone levels will rise into the low moderate category along the coast and fine particulate levels will improve to the good category statewide.
Source note: This page uses AirNow when current coverage is available and falls back to a planning baseline if live data fails.
What to do now in New York City
This decision block uses the latest live value when available, otherwise the city planning baseline.
Using live AQI
AQI 41
Good
About 0.45 cigarettes per 24h at this reading.
Short outdoor activity is generally low risk when AQI stays in this range.
Common planning patterns
City planning checklist
- Recheck before the longest or most exposed part of the day, not just once in the morning.
- Use the linked scenario pages when the reading changes a commute, workout, or family routine.
- Protect the indoor space that matters most first, especially sleeping or work-from-home rooms.
Useful next pages for this city
These linked pages answer the kinds of follow-up questions people usually have after checking the reading.
Commute exposure planner
Use AQI to decide whether a daily commute is routine, cautionary, or worth changing.
Outdoor exercise risk guide
Translate AQI into a clear decision for running, cycling, or training outside.
Kids and school exposure guide
Plan school runs, recess, and after-school time when children are more sensitive than adults.