Overview: From the perspective of pollution from toxic fine particulate matter (PM2.5), Kingston’s air quality for the first ten months of 2026 was 6.0 µg/m3, slightly below the overall average of the previous six years but 21% higher than the WHO-recommended limit of 5.0 µg/m3. As you can see from the chart on our Health Impacts page, that remains above the threshold for causing increased mortality among Kingstonians. Kingston’s PM2.5 levels have exceeded that limit in 58 of the past 82 months, often much worse. Wildfire season would normally have been over by late September. In Canada, it had mostly receded by early October but, according to the UBC Firesmoke Model, has since resumed with roughly 100 fires burning on November 1. The western and northern Canadian fires are likely a consequence of the record El Nino event, which continues to intensify. Widespread wildfires (some 160, especially in the southeastern states, are more likely due to the Trump Administration’s slashing of funding for the US Wildland Fire Service. Given that we have absolutely no levers to influence US-generated pollution, all we can do is to limit how much gets into our lungs by taking some of the measures suggested in our Self-Protection page. Do you know others who might benefit from more awareness of the reality of our air quality and how they can better protect their health? If so, please share this link: https://kingstonairquality.ca.
by Ron Hartling
The purpose of this site is to raise awareness of the uncomfortable reality that, with respect to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), Kingston air quality is consistently worse than the World Health Organization (WHO) standard. The site gives practical advice on managing household exposure to health-damaging particulates. Updates are posted daily around 7 am but the satellite view below shows the current Kingston reading at any time of day. If you live elsewhere, just click at your location on the map. For ease of personal decision-making, overall daily risk levels are categorized by severity in the table to the right.
Note that, while most Canadian and US sources define Risk Level 1 as airborne fine-particulate-matter (PM2.5) concentrations less than 12 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), I employ “Level 0” to differentiate readings within the far more evidence-based, less politically-influenced WHO healthy zone. Click on the Health impacts page for clarification on the critical differences between short- and long-term exposure risks.
Commentary as of Friday November 6 at 6:40 am
Yesterday’s readings: Kingston’s official hourly PM2.5 readings gradually declined over the course of yesterday, from 6 µg/m3 in the wee hours to 3 by late evening. Our daily average was 4.1 µg/m3, down from Wednesday’s 5.8. Overnight readings remained at 3 and 4 µg/m3.
Forecast for today: Our daily readings will likely fluctuate between the upper end of the comparatively-healthy Level-0 range and the lower half of Level 1.
Detailed forecast: Environment Canada’s 24-hour Kingston forecast calls for the current southerly winds to shift to full easterly by mid-morning, then northwesterly in the late afternoon and finally westerly early tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, the high-altitude Jetstream will be flowing southwesterly over Eastern Ontario. That combination prevents accurate air quality prediction. My best guess based on the satellite view us that we will have a few Level-1 periods but mostly remain within the high end of the Level-0 range.
Personal protective measures: No such measures should be needed today or tomorrow.
As of 6:30 am, this satellite view of PM2.5 fine particulate flows over North America painted a more healthy picture of overall continental air quality. There were significantly fewer large and/or intense particulate clouds than we’ve seen for some weeks. Unfortunately for Eastern Ontario, however, one of those smallish Level-1/Level-2 clouds lies to our immediate south.
Summary of Recent Readings
This table summarizes and provides context for the most recent three weeks of Kingston PM2.5 airborne fine particulate readings. The key numbers are, of course, the daily averages because that’s what informs us how our recent exposures have contributed to or ameliorated whatever annual exposure to toxic particulates we are comfortable with or accepting of. For those who choose to lower their at-home exposure in order to better protect their and their households’ long-term health, the numbers provide important information on how much effort may be required to stay within their comfort levels.
To facilitate that analysis, the table also computes each day’s risk category (usually a mix of 0’s, 1’s and 2’s), as well as 7- and 28-day running averages and medians. It also reports on the minimum and maximum readings for each day, as well as on the number of hours that day during which Kingston PM2.5 readings may have exceeded either or both the World Health Organization’s recommended maximum and the seriously outdated and therefore misleading US/Canadian equivalent.