Code purple: Very unhealthy air grips DC area early Friday from wildfire smoke

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Washington DC
Code purple: Very unhealthy air grips DC area early Friday from wildfire smoke

"I can taste it," an Arlington resident said about the air quality he discovered when he stepped onto his balcony.

By Sophia Barnes, Adam Tuss and NBC Washington Staff • Published 2 hours ago • Updated 2 minutes ago

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The Washington, D.C., area is dealing with terrible air quality on Friday because of wildfire smoke drifting from Canada, sparking warnings to stay indoors.

The air in D.C. was rated very unhealthy, or code purple, early Friday morning.

"It's just an ugly, smoky and really warm morning," Storm Team4 Meteorologist Chuck Bell said. "You should stay inside today. The air quality is just awful."

Overall, officials say Friday will have code red air quality amid highs in the 90s. Poor air quality will persist into the night.

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[doc03]

1. Steubenville Ohio AQI 327 Hazardous. That is bad but when the steel industry was

booming back in the 70s it was that high most of the summer.

[Yonnie3]

2. It is starting to become worse here near Charlottesville Va

I can see a significant increase from a haze to looking like and smelling like smoke in just a few hours this morning.

The air quality sensor in Ruckersville agrees with me. It went from 78 at 6 am to 220 at 10 am.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. There is visible smoke between me and the house directly across the street.

Last edited Fri Jul 17, 2026, 11:45 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm getting a headache too.

And good morning.

[Yonnie3]

4. Not quite so thick here (yet)

In an hour I'll be driving into a grocery store. I'll be on a winding and hilly route and I am curious to see if the smoke will vary with topography. Different altitudes and still versus moving air.