Another Round Of Very Smoky Skies Are Expected This Afternoon & Tonight Across Western & Central Mass (Posted at 9:30 am Thursday Morning 7/16/2026)

Even though the air quality is vastly improved as compared to yesterday (there's actually blue sky & sunshine), a new round of thick wildfire smoke is expected to move into the area by early this afternoon.

The worst conditions in terms of very smoky skies, little sunshine and the smell of smoke in the air is expected between about 3 pm this afternoon and midnight tonight. Those of you with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and emphysema should probably stay indoors this afternoon and tonight. If you do need to outdoors, please severely limit that time in the smoky conditions.

The air quality on Friday is expected to be much, much better with very little, if any smoke around.

I will be writing a new forecast for the next several days over the next couple of hours & should have it posted towards midday today.