Apps to Monitor Air Quality During Wildfire Season
Free applications like AirNow and AirVisual offer detailed air quality information, helping users understand and act on local conditions during periods of poor air.
Wildfires and other environmental factors can significantly degrade air quality, even in locations far from the source. To help the public navigate these conditions, several free applications have been identified as useful tools.
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) AirNow app serves as a primary source for official air quality measurements. The app provides a broad overview of air quality across areas and includes forecasts. Information is accessible via its website as well as Android and iOS applications.
Internationally, similar tools exist. Europe offers the European Air Quality Index, Canada provides WeatherCAN (which also includes general forecasts and air quality alerts), and Australia has AirRater, offering tools for air quality tracking.
A particularly valued application is AirVisual by IQAir. Its mobile apps for Android and iOS stand out by combining official government data with readings from a global network of local, citizen-owned sensors. This offers a highly detailed, hyperlocal assessment of air quality, sometimes down to the neighborhood level. AirVisual also provides a widget for quick checks and customizable alerts.
The combination of AirNow (or a regional equivalent) and AirVisual provides robust awareness of air quality conditions. Both applications are free to use and do not require unusual permissions or personal data collection.