25 Cities That Will Have The Worst Air Quality Today, As Smoke, Dust Blanket the East Coast
https://climatecrisis247.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/3869389-150x150.jpegThis week, two major air quality threats are converging in the Eastern United States, exposing millions of Americans to harmful particulate matter. As smoke from ongoing Canadian wildfires drifts from the Midwest to the Northeast, dust from the Saharan Desert is blowing across the Atlantic into the Gulf Coast.
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The combination of smoke and dust is reducing air quality to hazardous levels. Skies turned visibly gray in cities from New England to Florida, and health officials issued alerts urging residents to limit outdoor activity. Dozens of major cities will see particulate matter concentrations spike above 10 micrograms per cubic meter. No amount of particulate matter is safe to breathe, making degradations in air quality particularly dangerous for at-risk groups. A closer look at the data reveals the East Coast cities where air quality will be worst this week.
To determine the East Coast cities most affected by wildfire smoke and dust pollution, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed 24-hour forecast data on PM2.5 and smoke concentration from the NOAA. Cities were ranked based on combined index score measuring forecast PM2.5 concentration, smoke concentration, and dust concentration for June 5, 2025. Forecast values were combined using min-max normalization. Only cities with populations over 100,000 were included. Population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.
25. Tampa, FL
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 15.2 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 0.0 µg/m³
- Total population: 388,768
24. Philadelphia, PA
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 10.4 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 3.2 µg/m³
- Total population: 1,593,208
23. Providence, RI
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 14.6 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 0.5 µg/m³
- Total population: 189,715
22. Cape Coral, FL
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 15.3 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 0.0 µg/m³
- Total population: 198,912
21. Worcester, MA
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 14.4 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 0.8 µg/m³
- Total population: 204,191
20. New York, NY
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 12.7 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 2.5 µg/m³
- Total population: 8,622,467
19. Jersey City, NJ
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 12.6 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 2.7 µg/m³
- Total population: 287,899
18. Yonkers, NY
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 13.7 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 2.1 µg/m³
- Total population: 209,780
17. Newark, NJ
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 12.2 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 3.1 µg/m³
- Total population: 307,355
16. Boston, MA
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 16.0 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 0.6 µg/m³
- Total population: 665,945
15. Greensboro, NC
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 5.6 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 7.5 µg/m³
- Total population: 297,202
14. Raleigh, NC
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 11.0 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 4.2 µg/m³
- Total population: 465,517
13. Chattanooga, TN
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 11.2 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 4.4 µg/m³
- Total population: 181,288
12. Augusta, GA
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 11.1 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 4.7 µg/m³
- Total population: 201,615
11. Jacksonville, FL
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 18.2 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 0.2 µg/m³
- Total population: 950,203
10. Washington, DC
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 9.3 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 6.1 µg/m³
- Total population: 670,587
9. Charlotte, NC
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 4.6 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 9.4 µg/m³
- Total population: 875,045
8. Nashville, TN
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 8.0 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 8.0 µg/m³
- Total population: 684,103
7. Atlanta, GA
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 11.9 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 5.9 µg/m³
- Total population: 494,838
6. Winston-Salem, NC
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 6.2 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 9.8 µg/m³
- Total population: 249,571
5. Fayetteville, NC
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 9.9 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 10.3 µg/m³
- Total population: 208,697
4. Knoxville, TN
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 10.2 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 10.7 µg/m³
- Total population: 191,857
3. Rochester, NY
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 10.0 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 11.1 µg/m³
- Total population: 210,992
2. Buffalo, NY
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 16.1 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 10.3 µg/m³
- Total population: 276,688
1. Pittsburgh, PA
- Forecast PM2.5 concentration, next 24 hours: 14.0 µg/m³
- Forecast smoke concentration, next 24 hours: 14.6 µg/m³
- Total population: 303,843
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