Region air quality warning now lifted, now considered ‘low risk’
Posted Jul 19, 2026 11:33:41 AM.
Last Updated Jul 20, 2026 02:51:41 PM.
Environment Canada has lifted its air quality warning shortly after 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
The warning has been in effect since early in the week, when smoke from the northwestern Ontario forest fires began travelling south as far as the northern United States. The air quality rating on Environment Canada’s scale maxed out at 10+ (meaning very high risk), and returned to that rating as late as Saturday morning.
After a full day of regression of the smoky conditions, the yellow warning has now been lifted completely.
As of 11:30 a.m. Sunday, the live rating on Environment Canada’s scale is now reported a 2, representing “low risk” conditions. This falls well below the forecasted maximum of up to a 4 rating from Environment Canada’s predictive index posted this morning.
Current air quality rating for Waterloo Region according to Environment Canada
Projected air quality maximums for July 19 and 20, according to Environment Canada
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources’ live fire map, there are currently still 181 active blazes throughout the province.
