Update at 2:15 p.m. — On top of everything else, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was just issued for the region, through 9 p.m. Severe storms packing damaging winds are possible later today (Saturday), with some Severe Thunderstorm Warnings already in effect west of the immediate D.C. area.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia until 9 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/vJPO2kTTQE
Air quality in Arlington and the D.C. area has reached “very unhealthy” levels amid the incursion of northern wildfire smoke.
The thick, smoky haze is expected to remain in place for much of the day, forecasters say, before clearing Saturday. It has prompted the earlier Code Red air alert to be upgraded to a Code Purple.
Update on 7/17/26 — The Code Red alert has been upgraded to a Code Purple alert due to the thick smoke.
Earlier: The wildfire smoke hanging over the region is expected to get worse on Friday, prompting Arlington to move or cancel all of its outdoor parks and recreation programming for the day.
It’s going to be hot, hazy and moderately unhealthy to be outside today (Thursday).
The National Weather Service just issued a Heat Advisory, starting at 11 a.m. and remaining in effect until 8 p.m. tonight. That’s on top of the earlier Code Orange air quality alert, amid the sweltering weather and smoke from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota.
The supersized July 4 fireworks display planned over the National Mall for America’s 250th should be spectacular, but it could also be worse than ever for pets and people with respiratory conditions.
Arlington’s air could turn “very unhealthy” this weekend as a result of the roughly 40-minute show, according to the Washington Post.
Arlington and the D.C. area is getting a dual whammy of dangerous heat and poor air quality today.
A Heat Advisory is in effect today (Wednesday) from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., with the heat index expected to rise as high as 109.
It’s going to be a hot and hazy couple of days in the D.C. area.
Arlington and Northern Virginia are now under both an Air Quality Alert and a Heat Advisory for Wednesday.
After a sunny and pleasant late summer weekend, mother nature is dialing up the heat and the air pollution today.
A Code Orange air quality alert is in effect today due to both ground-level ozone and more Canadian wildfire smoke wafting down to the D.C. area. That’s on top of a predicted high temperature of 95.
The air quality in Arlington County has crossed into “Code Red” levels.
The county’s Air Quality Index (AQI), according to the federal government’s AirNow.gov website, was 151 as of 3 p.m., just past the 150 threshold for Code Red. That comes as a new round of Canadian wildfire smoke wafts into the area.
It’s been another smoky day in Arlington, and the air quality is still considered “unhealthy” as the workday nears a close.
The Air Quality Index registered at 177 as of 4 p.m. Thursday, solidly in the “Code Red” level.
The concentration of Canadian wildfire smoke in Arlington and the D.C. area is expected to get worse tomorrow.
A Code Red air quality alert has been issued for the region on Thursday. That means that those with certain health issues should avoid outdoor activities and even healthy individuals should limit their time outside.
The bulk of today’s storms are moving out — and more Canadian wildfire smoke is about to move in.
The smoke that enveloped Chicago and much of the Midwest today is set to push east toward our region. That has prompted a Code Orange air quality alert for the D.C. area tomorrow (Wednesday).
