City Guide

Seattle AQI planning guide

Seattle decisions are usually about whether today is routine, cautionary, or strong enough to change the plan for the next few hours.

Start with AQI 120Read the AQI detail page

Planning AQI

120

24-hour equivalent

1.96

cigarettes per day

Category

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Live AQI and forecast

The live API was unavailable or rate-limited during this request, so the page is showing the city planning baseline instead of failing open.

Static fallback

Fallback planning baseline

120

Planning baseline: about 1.96 cigarettes per 24h

Planning baseline

AQI 120

Use AQI 120 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

Watch for seasonal shifts, smoke intrusions, and any pollution pattern that turns a normal day into a protection day.

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 Seattle

This decision block uses the latest live value when available, otherwise the city planning baseline.

Updated Jun 24, 3:04 AM UTC

Using fallback planning baseline

AQI 120

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

About 1.96 cigarettes per 24h at this reading.

Longer outdoor exposure can meaningfully increase dose, especially for sensitive groups.

Move exercise indoors or shorten it substantially.
Use a well-fitted N95 if you must spend time outdoors.
Run HEPA filtration or create one cleaner indoor room.

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

Kids and school exposure guide

Plan school runs, recess, and after-school time when children are more sensitive than adults.

Wildfire smoke response plan

Use AQI to decide when normal air-quality habits are not enough and smoke response should begin.

Outdoor exercise risk guide

Translate AQI into a clear decision for running, cycling, or training outside.