Code Red Air Quality Alert for Pennsylvania and Mon Valley Watch Issue
Published on July 15, 2026
Multiple Air Quality Alerts Issued
PITTSBURGH – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) has issued a PM 2.5 Air Quality Alert of Code Red for Thursday, July 16 and Code Orange for Friday, July 17. The Allegheny County Health Department is issuing a Mon Valley Watch for both days.
Wildfire smoke from Ontario, Canada and Minnesota will be entering the Commonwealth from the northernmost counties first, then later to the south, this Wednesday afternoon and lingering through Friday. The forecast indicates that the PM2.5 levels will exceed the 24-hour standard for the state of Pennsylvania on Thursday, July 16 as well as on Friday July 17, 2026.
The U.S. Air Quality Index is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s tool for communicating about outdoor air quality and health. A description of Code Red states Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Code Orange states that members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
Sensitive groups include people with respiratory issues or lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis as well as older adults, children and teenagers, and people who are active outdoors.
The U.S. EPA, DEP, and Allegheny County Health Department recommend the following guidance:
For Code Red (Thursday, July 16):
Sensitive groups: Avoid long or intense outdoor activities. Consider rescheduling or moving activities indoors.
General Public: Reduce long or intense activities. Take more breaks during outdoor activities.
For Code Orange (Friday, July 17):
Sensitive groups: Make outdoor activities shorter and less intense. Take more breaks. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. Plan outdoor activities in the morning when ozone is lower.
People with asthma: Follow your asthma action plan and keep quick-relief medicine handy.
General public: Consider making outdoor activities shorter and less intense.
For both Thursday and Friday, companies in the Mon Valley most significantly contributing to particulate pollution must ensure equipment is functioning properly and they have sufficient staff and resources available to expeditiously implement the warning phase of their mitigation plans.
The Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Quality Program provides hourly updates on its Air Quality Dashboard. For tomorrow, under select pollutant, choose Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5).
The Air Quality Program will work to inform the public quickly if conditions upgrade from a Mon Valley Episode Watch to a Mon Valley Episode Warning.
Additional Air Quality Index Resources:
Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution
Guía de la calidad del aire sobre la contaminación por partículas
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The Allegheny County Health Department's mission is to protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of the more than 1.2 million people who call Allegheny County home.
Media inquiries may be directed to Ronnie Das,
Public Information Officer for the Health Department,
at ronnie.das@alleghenycounty.us or by phone at 412-578-7991.