Is the air quality good in Toronto?
On August 14, 2025, at 7:46 AM PT, Toronto, Ontario is experiencing poor air quality due to lingering regional wildfire smoke. The AQI is classified as "unhealthy for sensitive groups"
Air quality is dynamic and, like the weather, can change frequently.
Toronto ranked 6th among the most polluted cities in the world on Thursday morning. Regional major cities also impacted by wildfire smoke included Chicago, which ranked 21st, and Detroit, which ranked 24th on the list.
Click here for a real-time air quality map of Toronto.
While the air quality conditions on August 14 are unusually poor, it is important to keep in mind that the average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 for Toronto was 6.9 µg/m3. This corresponds to an AQI of 38, which falls into the “good” category and was ~1.4 times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m3.
Toronto was listed as the 6th most polluted major city on August 14, 7:46 AM PT. Source: IQAir.
Why is there an air quality alert in Toronto?
The air quality alert in Toronto has been issued because wildfire smoke from fires that have been burning across the Prairie provinces, particularly Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Smoke has lingered in the Great Lakes region for past week.
Hourly air quality forecast for Toronto, Ontario on August 14, 7:46 AM PT Source: IQAir.
Air quality is forecasted to improve in the city later in the evening.
Which cities are being affected by wildfire smoke?
In addition to Toronto, several cities are experiencing wildfire smoke on the morning of August 14:
- Detroit, Michigan
- Guelph, Ontario
- Kitchener, Ontario
- Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Rochester, New York
- Wausau, Wisconsin
Map of air quality in Ontario on August 14, 7:46 AM PT. Source: IQAir.
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How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
