Bad-air day near Ohio

Breathing here shouldn't cost you a pack a day.

See what the smoke in Columbus is really doing to your lungs, then find cleaner air within a drive you choose.

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Columbus (you are here) Low smoke Some particle pollution Unhealthy (sensitive) Unhealthy+ Nearby model sample

Springfield

#1

Checking road routeIllinoisLow smoke/ PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 4.3 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 4.3/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
25% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

Illinois capital with extensive lodging northeast of St. Louis.

Buffalo

#2

Checking road routeNew YorkLow smoke/ PM2.5 4.7 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 4.7 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 4.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
18% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

A major New York city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Cleveland

#3

Checking road routeOhioLow smoke/ PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 4.9 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 4.9/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
14% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

A major Ohio city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Turkey Point

#4

Checking road routeOntarioLow smoke/ PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 5.1 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 5.1/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
11% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

Low-key Lake Erie cottage beach beside marshes and vineyards, far from major highways.

Port Dover

#5

Checking road routeOntarioLow smoke/ PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 5.1 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 5.1/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
11% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

Lake Erie beach town with a palm-tree pier vibe and steady south-shore lake air.

Pittsburgh

#6

Checking road routePennsylvaniaLow smoke/ PM2.5 6.8 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 6.8 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 6.8/22 × 0.5 = 0.2 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
19% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

A major Pennsylvania city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Asheville

#7

Checking road routeNorth CarolinaLow smoke/ PM2.5 7.1 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 7.1 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 7.1/22 × 0.5 = 0.2 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
25% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

Blue Ridge mountain city with extensive lodging and higher-elevation air west of Charlotte.

Indianapolis

#8

Checking road routeIndianaLow smoke/ PM2.5 7.4 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 7.4 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 7.4/22 × 0.5 = 0.2 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
30% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

A major Indiana city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Cincinnati

#9

Checking road routeOhioLow smoke/ PM2.5 8.5 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 8.5 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 8.5/22 × 0.5 = 0.2 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Columbus

49% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

A major Ohio city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

St. Catharines

#10

Checking road routeOntarioLow smoke/ PM2.5 8.5 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 8.5 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 8.5/22 × 0.5 = 0.2 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Columbus

49% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 3: Low risk (St. Catharines station)

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

A major Ontario city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

#11

Checking road routeOntarioLow smoke/ PM2.5 8.5 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 8.5 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 8.5/22 × 0.5 = 0.2 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Columbus

49% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 3: Low risk (St. Catharines station)

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

Wine-country town where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, dense with inns and B&Bs.

Chattanooga

#12

Checking road routeTennesseeLow smoke/ PM2.5 8.5 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 8.5 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 8.5/22 × 0.5 = 0.2 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Columbus

49% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

River and mountain city with plentiful lodging between Nashville, Atlanta and Birmingham.

Tobermory

#13

Checking road routeOntarioLow smoke/ PM2.5 9 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 9 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 9/22 × 0.5 = 0.2 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Columbus

58% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

Harbour village at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, wrapped in open Lake Huron and Georgian Bay water with steady onshore breezes.

Port Stanley

#14

Checking road routeOntarioSome particle pollution/ PM2.5 9.7 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 9.7 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 9.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.2 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Columbus

70% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 3: Low risk (Port Stanley station)

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

Lake Erie fishing village turned beach town, with open-water air on the province’s south shore.

London

#15

Checking road routeOntarioSome particle pollution/ PM2.5 9.7 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 9.7 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 9.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.2 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Columbus

70% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 2: Low risk (London station)

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

A major Ontario city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Charlotte

#16

Checking road routeNorth CarolinaSome particle pollution/ PM2.5 10.8 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 10.8 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 10.8/22 × 0.5 = 0.2 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Columbus

89% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

A major North Carolina city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Louisville

#17

Checking road routeKentuckySome particle pollution/ PM2.5 10.9 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 10.9 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 10.9/22 × 0.5 = 0.2 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Columbus

91% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

A major Kentucky city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Cobourg

#18

Checking road routeOntarioSome particle pollution/ PM2.5 11.1 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 11.1 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 11.1/22 × 0.5 = 0.3 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Columbus

95% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

Victorian lakefront town with a long sandy beach an easy hop east of the GTA.

Windsor

#19

Checking road routeOntarioSome particle pollution/ PM2.5 11.5 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 11.5 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 11.5/22 × 0.5 = 0.3 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Columbus

102% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 3: Low risk (Windsor Downtown station)

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

A major Ontario city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Detroit

#20

Checking road routeMichiganSome particle pollution/ PM2.5 11.5 µg/m³

PM2.5 is 11.5 µg/m³ here vs 5.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h out ≈ 11.5/22 × 0.5 = 0.3 here; 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 at home.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

▲ Air is currently worse here than in Columbus

102% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 3: Low risk (Windsor Downtown station)

Observed Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

A major Michigan city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

5.7 µg/m³PM2.5 in Columbus right now
Low smokeLatest observation Jul 18, 5:00 p.m. EDT

Build-time readings shown

Air quality · Columbus

Clear skies! Twelve hours out here is roughlyPM2.5 here is 5.7 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.12 h outside ≈ 5.7/22 × 0.5 = 0.1 cigarettes.A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

That is the fine-particle pollution you'd breathe standing outside all day inColumbus right now, turned into a number your body already understands.

A health-impact equivalence, not literal smoking: Berkeley Earth puts a full day at 22 µg/m³ of PM2.5 at about one cigarette.How we work this out

Why live rankings?

Smoke plumes are patchy and move with changing winds, terrain and weather. Nearby lakefront, coastal and higher-elevation places can be much clearer than Columbus, but no direction is reliably cleaner. That is why this list is recalculated from live PM2.5 readings every hour instead of publishing a fixed escape route. If everything within three hours is smoky, the rankings will say so. Sometimes the honest answer is to stay inside with a filter running.

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