Toronto experienced a short-lived improvement in air quality on Friday morning before officials warned that smoke from wildfires will degrade conditions again this evening and possibly through the weekend.
Health advisory and city actions
Environment Canada kept an orange air-quality alert in place for the city for the third consecutive day. The warning, issued because of smoke drifting from wildfires in northwestern Ontario, prompted the City of Toronto to close outdoor pools and modify outdoor recreation programs.
At one point on Friday morning, the international air-quality tracker IQAir listed Toronto as the fourth-worst city in the world for air quality. By about 10 a.m., readings had improved from the “very unhealthy” range to moderate, and were later listed as good for a period.
“Smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario continues to result in very poor air quality along with reduced visibility this morning,” Environment Canada said in its advisory.
The federal agency warned the respite would be temporary. It said very poor air quality is expected to return to all regions of the city this evening and may persist into the weekend, and urged Toronto residents to limit time spent outdoors.
- Outdoor pools: closed while the orange alert remains.
- Recreation programs: schedules and activities modified to reduce outdoor exposure.
- Personal protection: use of a well-fitting respirator-type mask (for example, N95) is recommended for those who must be outdoors.
Symptoms and precautions
Environment Canada outlined common and less common health effects of smoke exposure. People may experience eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. Less common but more serious symptoms can include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough. Those with underlying respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, children and older adults remain particularly vulnerable.
| Time | Reported condition |
|---|---|
| Early Friday | Ranked 4th worst globally (IQAir) |
| ~10 a.m. | Improved to moderate, then good |
| Evening (forecast) | Very poor air quality expected to return |
City of Toronto staff said pool closures and the cancellation or alteration of outdoor events will continue while the orange alert is active. Authorities recommend rescheduling or cancelling outdoor sports, activities and events when possible.
Residents should monitor local updates from Environment Canada and municipal channels for changes to the alert level and to city-run program schedules.
