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.

Start with AQI 88Read the AQI detail page

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.

AirNow

Current reading

53

Moderate

Northeast Urban, NJ • 2026-04-30 12:00 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

2026-04-30

AQI 40

Good

4/30 - Gusty northwesterly winds and gradually clearing skies are expected on Thursday as low pressure departs the region, keeping air quality in the good category throughout the state. 5/1 - An overall pleasant day is forecast for Friday as high pressure slides eastward across the region. Northwest to west winds and temperatures in the low to mid 60's will keep air quality in the good category statewide.

2026-05-01

AQI 40

Good

4/30 - Gusty northwesterly winds and gradually clearing skies are expected on Thursday as low pressure departs the region, keeping air quality in the good category throughout the state. 5/1 - An overall pleasant day is forecast for Friday as high pressure slides eastward across the region. Northwest to west winds and temperatures in the low to mid 60's will keep air quality in 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.

Updated Apr 30, 6:08 PM UTC

Using live AQI

AQI 53

Moderate

About 0.59 cigarettes per 24h at this reading.

Sensitive groups may notice irritation with longer outdoor exposure or exercise.

Shift hard workouts to cleaner hours or indoor spaces.
Limit unnecessary exposure for children and sensitive groups.
Keep a mask and indoor-air plan ready if readings continue rising.

Common planning patterns

Repeated exposure matters more than one isolated check when poor air is part of the weekly routine.
Rechecking later in the day is often as important as the first reading, especially when smoke or traffic patterns shift.
Indoor air becomes a bigger part of the decision once the city stays elevated for hours or overnight.

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.

Browse more city guides

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.