City Guide

Seattle AQI planning guide

Seattle residents often face sharp changes during wildfire smoke events, so a decision tool is most valuable when it helps you act early rather than react late.

Start with AQI 120Read the AQI detail page

Planning AQI

120

Berkeley Earth 24-hour comparison

1.96

cigarette-equivalents per day

Category

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

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.

AirNow

Current reading

16

Good

Seattle-Bellevue-Kent Valley, WA • 2026-08-23 00:00 PST

Peak concern season

Jul-Sep

Regional wildfire smoke is the main driver of severe short-term changes.

Repeat-use trigger

School + sleep

Families often need one plan for daytime school and another for overnight indoor air.

Indoor priority

Clean-air room

A prepared clean room matters more in multi-day smoke events than one-off outdoor masking.

Upcoming forecast

2026-08-23

AQI 44

Good

For Aug 21-24 (Fri-Mon): Expect GOOD to MODERATE air quality overall with occasional smoky skies, but limited ground level wildfire smoke. Potential for intermittent UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS or higher air quality in parts of Eastern King County near the Three Queens fire.

2026-08-24

AQI 44

Good

For Aug 21-24 (Fri-Mon): Expect GOOD to MODERATE air quality overall with occasional smoky skies, but limited ground level wildfire smoke. Potential for intermittent UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS or higher air quality in parts of Eastern King County near the Three Queens fire.

2026-08-25

AQI 44

Good

For Aug 21-24 (Fri-Mon): Expect GOOD to MODERATE air quality overall with occasional smoky skies, but limited ground level wildfire smoke. Potential for intermittent UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS or higher air quality in parts of Eastern King County near the Three Queens fire.

Source note: When smoke is moving in, forecast direction matters almost as much as the current value because conditions can change fast overnight.

What to do now in Seattle

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

Updated Aug 23, 8:35 AM UTC

Using live AQI

AQI 16

Good

About 0.13 cigarettes per 24h at this reading.

Short outdoor activity is generally low risk when AQI stays in this range.

Proceed with normal outdoor activity.
Use the day to ventilate and prepare before worse conditions arrive.
Check tomorrow's forecast if wildfire smoke or inversion is developing.

Common planning patterns

Wildfire smoke can push AQI from routine to severe within a short window.
Overnight smoke can make indoor air and sleep quality the main concern.
Household preparation matters more when poor air lasts for several days.

City planning checklist

  • Close windows before smoke visibly thickens indoors.
  • Identify one cleanest room in advance of smoke season.
  • Keep school and activity plans flexible when AQI is rising.

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.