City Guide
New York City AQI planning guide
For New Yorkers, AQI becomes useful when it answers a practical question: is this just city background pollution, or enough to change today's outdoor time?
Planning AQI
88
Berkeley Earth 24-hour comparison
1.32
cigarette-equivalents per day
Category
Moderate
Live AQI and forecast
Current observations and forecasts come from the US EPA AirNow network. Current AQI is an area-level NowCast; local smoke shifts can still change conditions quickly.
Current reading
34
Good
Northeast Urban, NJ • 2026-08-17 09:00 EST
Peak concern season
Jun-Sep
Heat, traffic, and occasional Canadian smoke drive the biggest AQI spikes.
Repeat-use trigger
Street-level commute
Platform waits and avenue walking can add up faster than the city average suggests.
Indoor priority
Apartment ventilation
Open-window apartments need a faster switch to filtered indoor air on smoky days.
Upcoming forecast
2026-08-17
AQI 50
Good
8/17 - A cold front will pass through the region later in the day on Monday. Good air quality is expected due to mostly cloudy skies, northwest winds, and a chance of rain. 8/18 - Sunshine returns on Tuesday along with highs in the mid-80s and northerly flow. Levels of fine particulates rise to the good/moderate threshold, while ozone rises to the moderate category along the coast.
2026-08-18
AQI 55
Moderate
8/17 - A cold front will pass through the region later in the day on Monday. Good air quality is expected due to mostly cloudy skies, northwest winds, and a chance of rain. 8/18 - Sunshine returns on Tuesday along with highs in the mid-80s and northerly flow. Levels of fine particulates rise to the good/moderate threshold, while ozone rises to the moderate category along the coast.
Source note: Citywide readings are a good baseline, but street canyons, bridges, and outdoor platforms can feel worse than the headline number.
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 34
Good
About 0.28 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
- Compare the morning and evening commute before committing to a long outdoor route.
- Move intense workouts indoors when AQI trends upward.
- Keep bedroom air cleaner on smoky days rather than focusing only on daytime exposure.
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.