Wildfire Smoke, Other Issues To Severely Drive Down Air Quality In These Cities This Weekend

By Evan Comen • July 18, 2025

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This weekend, wildfire smoke, a stagnant dome of high pressure, and low atmospheric mixing are setting the stage for dangerous air quality in several pockets in the Central and Western United States. Fine particulate matter levels are forecast to spike well beyond healthy thresholds, threatening millions of Americans with respiratory risks.

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Dozens of cities are expected to see daily PM2.5 levels exceed thresholds deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups, with some forecast to hit more than five times the EPA’s annual standard of 9.0 micrograms per cubic meter. The National Weather Service has issued air quality alerts in 62 counties, representing nearly 17 million Americans. A closer look at the data reveals where particulate matter concentration will be highest this weekend.

To determine the cities where air quality will be worst this weekend, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on particulate matter forecasts from the EPA’s AirNow platform. Cities were ranked based on the average forecast concentration of 24-hour PM2.5 pollution for July 18 to 20, 2025. Only cities with at least 50,000 residents were considered. Population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.

25. McKinney, TX

Photo by wgooden on Pixabay

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 14.6 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 11.9 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 9.7 µg/m³
Total population: 196,160

24. Joliet, IL

Photo by Ray Graciano on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 14.7 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 11.6 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 14.3 µg/m³
Total population: 150,221

23. Edina, MN

Photo by Skylar Zilka on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 14.8 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 18.6 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 17.3 µg/m³
Total population: 53,037

22. Ankeny, IA

Photo by Niko Vassios on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 14.9 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 13.8 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 14.3 µg/m³
Total population: 68,392

21. Bloomington, MN

Photo by Chris Flaten on Pexels

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 14.9 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 18.3 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 17.8 µg/m³
Total population: 89,244

20. Aurora, CO

Photo by Acton Crawford on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 14.9 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 14.7 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 9.4 µg/m³
Total population: 387,349

19. Burnsville, MN

Photo by Josh Hild on Pexels

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 15.0 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 18.6 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 18.4 µg/m³
Total population: 64,075

18. Thornton, CO

Photo by Acton Crawford on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 15.7 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 15.9 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 11.0 µg/m³
Total population: 141,799

17. Des Moines, IA

Photo by Andrew Phares on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 15.7 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 13.4 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 14.1 µg/m³
Total population: 213,164

16. West Des Moines, IA

Photo by Roger Starnes Sr on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 16.0 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 13.2 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 14.2 µg/m³
Total population: 68,744

15. Broomfield, CO

Photo by Andreas Miller on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 16.2 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 14.5 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 10.4 µg/m³
Total population: 73,946

14. Commerce City, CO

Photo by Imitat on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 16.2 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 16.4 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 11.0 µg/m³
Total population: 63,050

13. Westminster, CO

Photo by Eric Dahm on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 16.5 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 14.3 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 10.5 µg/m³
Total population: 115,502

12. Denver, CO

Photo by Acton Crawford on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 16.6 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 15.5 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 9.9 µg/m³
Total population: 710,800

11. Boulder, CO

Photo by Johan How on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 16.8 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 12.6 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 10.1 µg/m³
Total population: 106,598

10. Longmont, CO

Photo by Kody Goodson on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 17.6 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 14.7 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 10.0 µg/m³
Total population: 98,282

9. Greeley, CO

Photo by Ryan Noeker on Pexels

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 17.8 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 19.0 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 12.2 µg/m³
Total population: 107,949

8. Fort Collins, CO

Photo by Acton Crawford on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 17.8 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 14.0 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 10.9 µg/m³
Total population: 168,758

7. Loveland, CO

Photo by Peter Pryharski on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 18.1 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 15.5 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 11.0 µg/m³
Total population: 76,500

6. Great Falls, MT

Photo by eric diaz on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 18.4 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 17.6 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 15.5 µg/m³
Total population: 60,373

5. Arvada, CO

Photo by Gennady Zakharin on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 18.8 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 12.2 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 9.5 µg/m³
Total population: 123,066

4. Lakewood, CO

Photo by Gennady Zakharin on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 20.5 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 12.5 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 8.1 µg/m³
Total population: 156,149

3. Medford, OR

Photo by Intricate Explorer on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 21.2 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 7.9 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 6.5 µg/m³
Total population: 85,539

2. Wichita, KS

Photo by American Jael on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 24.4 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 28.0 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 25.1 µg/m³
Total population: 395,951

1. Grand Junction, CO

Photo by Nick Russill on Unsplash

Forecast PM2.5, July 18th, 2025: 49.7 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 19th, 2025: 13.8 µg/m³
Forecast PM2.5, July 20th, 2025: 13.4 µg/m³
Total population: 65,918

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