Code Purple Air Quality Alert for Montgomery County — July 17, 2026
Wildfire smoke from Ontario and Minnesota has prompted a statewide Code Purple alert for fine particulate matter (PM2.5); everyone should limit outdoor activity.
The Pennsylvania DEP has declared a statewide Code Purple Air Quality Action Day for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) for Friday, July 17, 2026, due to wildfire smoke drifting from Ontario, Canada and Minnesota. Code Purple is classified as very unhealthy for everyone; all people should limit or avoid outdoor activities, and sensitive groups (people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens, pregnant people) should avoid all outdoor physical activity. The advisory recommends staying indoors with windows closed, using indoor recirculation and high-efficiency filters if possible, considering N95 masks for some protection, seeking cooling centers if needed, and calling 911 for severe respiratory symptoms; AirNow forecasts conditions may improve Saturday but remain unhealthy for sensitive groups.