Tennessee Air Quality Forecast Program

03/26/2026

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is issuing a PM2.5 Code Orange Air Quality Alert for the Chattanooga Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), valid for today, Thursday, March 26, 2026.

Ambient air monitors in the Chattanooga area are measuring elevated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations due to smoke from fires in the region.

Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.

People with lung disease such as asthma, children and teens, older adults, and people who are routinely active outdoors for six or more hours a day, take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:
• Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.
• Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.
• Be active outdoors when air quality is better.

Air quality can change quickly. Keep track of your local air quality at https://www.airnow.gov and learn more about the AQI color scale here: https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/

03/06/2026

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is issuing a PM2.5 Code Orange Air Quality Alert for the Chattanooga Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), valid for today, Friday, March 6, 2026.

Ambient air monitors in the Chattanooga area are measuring elevated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations due to smoke from fires in the region. TDEC will continue monitoring the values through today and the weekend and will issue alerts daily as needed.

Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.

People with lung disease such as asthma, children and teens, older adults, and people who are routinely active outdoors for six or more hours a day, take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:
• Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.
• Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.
• Be active outdoors when air quality is better.

Air quality can change quickly. Keep track of your local air quality at https://www.airnow.gov and learn more about the AQI color scale here: https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/.

03/05/2026

We’ve received reports of heavy smoke in the Chattanooga area this evening, and air quality monitors on both sides of the Tennessee–Georgia border are currently showing elevated AQI values.

The smoke is most likely associated with a ~1,000 acre prescribed burn being conducted by the Georgia Forestry Commission in Walker County, GA. Smoke from large burns can travel and settle in nearby areas depending on winds and overnight conditions.

Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects, while the general public is less likely to be affected. Those who are sensitive to smoke may want to consider limiting outdoor activity overnight.

Smoke impacts could persist through the evening. TDEC will continue monitoring air quality conditions and will assess whether any air quality alerts are needed.

Georgia Forestry will be conducting several prescribed burns in Walker County today. Burns are planned on 1,000 acres near 332 Blue Hole Rd; 1,004 acres near Forest Service Rd 231, and 20 acres near 655 Walnut Grove. Smoke will be visible in these areas.

01/22/2026

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is issuing a PM2.5 Code Orange Air Quality Alert for the Chattanooga Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), valid for today, Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Ambient air monitors in the Chattanooga area are measuring elevated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations due to smoke from regional fires that settled near the surface during overnight hours.

Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.

People with lung disease such as asthma, children and teens, older adults, and people who are routinely active outdoors for six or more hours a day, take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:
• Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.
• Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.
• Be active outdoors when air quality is better.

Keep track of your local air quality at https://www.airnow.gov and learn more about the AQI color scale here: https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/