‘Very unhealthy’ air quality to ease in Central Pa. over weekend, but remain poor

Avoid being outside for long periods, or intense outdoor activity, Pa.’s health department says.

• Haley O'Brien/WITF
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  Haley O'Brien joined WITF in 2026. A native of Scranton, she enjoys exploring Pennsylvania's diverse communities. Haley previously worked at NPR/PBS stations in Northeast Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley, and has won awards for video storytelling and beat reporting.

Air quality across Pennsylvania was among the worst in the world on Thursday and Friday, as smoke from wildfires in Canada drifted across the Midwest and Northeast.  

Forecasts from the Environmental Protection Agency show the level of particulate in the air easing slightly over the weekend, but still being unhealthy for children, people who are pregnant, and people with asthma or other chronic conditions.  

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued a statewide Code Purple air quality alert for Friday, recommending that all residents avoid outside activity. 

The DEP encourages residents to check airnow.gov for current conditions.  

Matt Teare, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in State College, said the air quality improved a small amount since Thursday, but it will worsen Friday evening. 

“The winds will start to shift more from the south and the west, so that will bring the smoke back into the Harrisburg area,” he said.  

The City of Harrisburg canceled all city events and programs Friday, while the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources rescheduled its outdoor event at Italian Lake Park.

 

 

Dutch Wonderland closed for the day Friday, as well as Penn National Race Course and the pool at Buffalo State Park. 

Smoke exposure causes thousands of deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Breathing smoky air increases hospital visits and can cause respiratory infections. It’s an example of how chronically hotter and dryer weather due to climate change can impact people’s health. 

The region may see clearer skies by the end of the weekend, Teare says. 

Saturday will bring more wind, rain and a chance of severe thunderstorms. 

“The combination of those factors will begin to scour out the smoke,” he said. “It looks like by later Saturday afternoon or early in the evening Saturday, the smoke will be pushed out.” 

Teare says air quality in the region will likely be improved on Sunday, but it depends on how the wind blows. 

“We could get a little bit of smoke back in the area,” he said. “It’s not enough to cause the kinds of haze that we’ve been seeing, the visibility restrictions. But we’ll still be monitoring to see, since there are still those wildfires occurring. 

“Otherwise, it does seem like it would be a nice day,” he added.