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Yellow haze is visible over White Lake in Central Frontenac on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 as wildfire smoke from northwestern Ontario affects air quality in the Kingston region. Photo by Meghan Balogh /The Kingston Whig-Standard
KINGSTON – This morning, much of Ontario is facing poor air quality due to smoke traveling from wildfires in northwestern Ontario into the Kingston area.
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Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a yellow warning for air quality, along with an earlier yellow heat warning that remains active today.
According to Air Quality Ontario’s website run by Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Kingston’s air quality health index sits at level 4 this morning indicating moderate risk. However, they caution that air quality is expected to deteriorate throughout the day with levels potentially reaching a high risk index of 7 later this afternoon and evening.
Simon Legault, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada told the Whig-Standard Wednesday morning that conditions should improve within about 24 hours as wind patterns change coming out of northwestern Ontario.
The smoke originates from several fires burning in northwestern Ontario as well as possibly some fires located in Northwest Territories.
“It should be better tomorrow,” he said. “Maybe not good air quality but probably acceptable. The air is shifting from the north and pushing that smoke plume away…. but it is hard to know where the smoke plume will be tomorrow.”
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Tuesday’s extreme heat saw temperatures predicted as high as 35 C in Kingston with a Humidex reading of44; however some relief came thanks toc smoky haze blocking part of sunlight duringthe day.“The smoke prevented partof thesolar energytoreachthegroundsoitlimitedtheraisingof temperaturesyesterday,” Legault said.”Sowe didn’t reachtemperatures weexpected yesterday, andthatmightbe thesame today.”
“Smokefromwildfiresiscausingpoorairqualityandreducedvisibility,” Environmentand Climate Change Canada statedonitsyellowwarning.”Assmokelevels increasehealthrisksincrease. Limit time outdoors. Considerreducingoreschedulingoutdoorsportsactivitiesandevents.”
The government agency also mentioned conditions might improve later today or tonight.
The Cityof Kingston issuedanotice Tuesday nightalerting residents about persistently poorairquality into Wednesday.
“You may experience mildandcommon symptomssuchaseyenoseandthroat irritation headachesormildcough,”thecity postedonitswebsite.”Moreseriousbutlesscommonly include wheezing, chestpainorseverecough. If youthinkyou’rehavingamedicalemergency seekimmediate medicalassistance.”
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The cityencourages residents tokepindoorsbykeeping doorswindowsclosedas muchaspossibleandanusingairfilterswhen possibleto maintainclean indoorair.The Toronto areaissufferingfromeven worseairqualityduetosmokewithveryhigh10+airqualityhealthindexratingswhere smokes hoveringclosertothe groundsaid Legault.
Belleville’sindexiscurrentlyat5moderateriskbutisexpectedtorise toa7astheday progresses.
“The airqualityreallyisn’tgreatto breathe,”Legaultstated.”Wetellpeopleto staymostly indoorsif theycan. It’snotthebestdaytodo sportseventsortrainoutside.”
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