An air quality warning remains in effect across Waterloo Region and surrounding areas.
The region was put under a warning for poor air quality that began Wednesday and the conditions may not improve until early Friday.
The warning, initially at a yellow level, was upgraded to a more severe orange level by 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The national weather agency said smoke from forest fires in northwestern Ontario is causing the poor air quality.
Update: Air Quality Index data from Environment Canada as of 9 a.m. Wednesday. (Environment Canada)
The smoky smell was evident around Waterloo Region Wednesday, when the Air Quality Index jumped to a 6 before 8 a.m., a 9 before 9 a.m., and peaked at 10+ just before 10 a.m.
Environment Canada expects it to stay at a 10+, off the scale at a very high risk, by the end of the day Wednesday and into Thursday.
Seniors, pregnant people, young children and those with an existing illness or health condition are more likely to be impacted.
“As smoke levels increase, health risks increase,” Environment Canada said. “Limit time outdoors. Consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events.”
The air quality concerns led to closures, cancellations and other impacts in the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo. The cancellations included the FIFA World Cup viewing party that was planned for the Kitchener Market, which was supposed to go ahead despite a fire over the weekend.
The poor air quality followed scorching temperatures as it reached 34 C on Tuesday, 41 when factoring in the humidex, and a heat warning was issued as a result.
Wednesday’s forecast called for a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 31 and humidex values near 34 C, and the heat warning was lifted in the afternoon.
The latest weather updates can be found here.
Worsening smoke and air quality at The Boardwalk in Kitchener on the afternoon of July 15, 2026. (Erin Anderson/CityNews Kitchener)
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