SmogRank / Episodes / United States
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, United States, July 2023
For 1 day, on 19 July 2023, 28 cities in the United States had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States: 34.9 µg/m³ on 19 July, about 3.4× its usual 10.2.
No cause named We have no fire or smoke records for these days, so we only say what the measurements show.
Cities reached 28 in 1 country
Days 1 19 July 2023
Worst day 19 July 28 cities counted
Furthest above usual 5.1× New City
Day by day
Play 19 July 28 cities at twice their usual or more
Chester Bayonne Wilmington Newark Bear South Vineland Elkton Pleasantville Dover Edgewood York Danbury Hunt Valley Baltimore Waterbury New Haven Albany Scaggsville Utica South Laurel Syracuse Pittsfield Rockville Washington Hartford State College Rose Hill Hagerstown Springfield Springfield North Chicopee New London Greenfield Altoona Rochester Coventry Keene Worcester Johnstown Providence Pawtucket Fall River Cheektowaga Lowell Lexington Buffalo Brockton Kenmore Derry Boston Quincy Lynn Haverhill McKeesport West Mifflin Wilkinsburg St. Catharines Pittsburgh Portsmouth Erie Hermitage Brantford Scranton Ewing Lancaster Pennsauken Bridgeport Jersey City Philadelphia Lebanon Trenton Linden New Brunswick Harrisburg New York City Elizabeth Toms River Paterson Carlisle Holbrook Reading Bensalem Hempstead Fort Lee Norristown Allentown Bethlehem White Plains Newburgh New City 16 Jul 17 18 19 20 21 22 Every measured city in the area, coloured by its PM2.5 that day; a dark ring marks a city at twice its usual or more. Bars: cities counted each day, coloured by their median level. Choose a day or press play; without JavaScript, the days link to that day's world ranking.
How it spread
Lancaster Lancaster, 16 July: 6.0 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Lancaster, 17 July: 36.9 µg/m³, 4.2× usual Lancaster, 18 July: 26.4 µg/m³, 3.0× usual Lancaster, 19 July: 25.2 µg/m³, 2.9× usual Lancaster, 20 July: 21.1 µg/m³, 2.4× usual Lancaster, 21 July: 7.9 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Lancaster, 22 July: 11.0 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Bethlehem Bethlehem, 16 July: 4.5 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Bethlehem, 17 July: 33.5 µg/m³, 4.8× usual Bethlehem, 18 July: 26.0 µg/m³, 3.7× usual Bethlehem, 19 July: 30.3 µg/m³, 4.3× usual Bethlehem, 20 July: 22.6 µg/m³, 3.2× usual Bethlehem, 21 July: 7.1 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Bethlehem, 22 July: 7.2 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Allentown Allentown, 16 July: 4.2 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Allentown, 17 July: 31.7 µg/m³, 4.2× usual Allentown, 18 July: 24.1 µg/m³, 3.2× usual Allentown, 19 July: 29.7 µg/m³, 3.9× usual Allentown, 20 July: 22.0 µg/m³, 2.9× usual Allentown, 21 July: 6.7 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Allentown, 22 July: 6.3 µg/m³, 0.8× usual New City New City, 16 July: 2.4 µg/m³, 0.4× usual New City, 17 July: 31.4 µg/m³, 5.3× usual New City, 18 July: 25.8 µg/m³, 4.4× usual New City, 19 July: 30.3 µg/m³, 5.1× usual New City, 20 July: 11.3 µg/m³, 1.9× usual New City, 21 July: 8.1 µg/m³, 1.4× usual New City, 22 July: 2.4 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Harrisburg Harrisburg, 16 July: 7.4 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Harrisburg, 17 July: 31.4 µg/m³, 3.4× usual Harrisburg, 18 July: 29.4 µg/m³, 3.2× usual Harrisburg, 19 July: 31.8 µg/m³, 3.4× usual Harrisburg, 20 July: 20.6 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Harrisburg, 21 July: 6.2 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Harrisburg, 22 July: 8.7 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Lebanon Lebanon, 16 July: 5.4 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Lebanon, 17 July: 29.8 µg/m³, 3.3× usual Lebanon, 18 July: 26.2 µg/m³, 2.9× usual Lebanon, 19 July: 29.0 µg/m³, 3.2× usual Lebanon, 20 July: 19.7 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Lebanon, 21 July: 5.8 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Lebanon, 22 July: 7.5 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Newburgh Newburgh, 16 July: 2.7 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Newburgh, 17 July: 29.3 µg/m³, 5.0× usual Newburgh, 18 July: 26.1 µg/m³, 4.4× usual Newburgh, 19 July: 26.7 µg/m³, 4.5× usual Newburgh, 20 July: 9.6 µg/m³, 1.6× usual Newburgh, 21 July: 6.8 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Newburgh, 22 July: 4.1 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Reading Reading, 16 July: 4.0 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Reading, 17 July: 28.5 µg/m³, 3.8× usual Reading, 18 July: 23.4 µg/m³, 3.1× usual Reading, 19 July: 28.4 µg/m³, 3.7× usual Reading, 20 July: 20.6 µg/m³, 2.7× usual Reading, 21 July: 5.6 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Reading, 22 July: 6.8 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Scranton Scranton, 16 July: 6.1 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Scranton, 17 July: 28.4 µg/m³, 3.2× usual Scranton, 18 July: 27.4 µg/m³, 3.0× usual Scranton, 19 July: 25.3 µg/m³, 2.8× usual Scranton, 20 July: 17.4 µg/m³, 1.9× usual Scranton, 21 July: 6.5 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Scranton, 22 July: 7.9 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Carlisle Carlisle, 16 July: 6.6 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Carlisle, 17 July: 28.1 µg/m³, 3.6× usual Carlisle, 18 July: 27.0 µg/m³, 3.5× usual Carlisle, 19 July: 27.6 µg/m³, 3.6× usual Carlisle, 20 July: 19.0 µg/m³, 2.5× usual Carlisle, 21 July: 5.2 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Carlisle, 22 July: 7.9 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Bensalem Bensalem, 16 July: 7.2 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Bensalem, 17 July: 26.4 µg/m³, 2.9× usual Bensalem, 18 July: 26.1 µg/m³, 2.9× usual Bensalem, 19 July: 33.1 µg/m³, 3.7× usual Bensalem, 20 July: 26.7 µg/m³, 3.0× usual Bensalem, 21 July: 11.4 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Bensalem, 22 July: 9.9 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Norristown Norristown, 16 July: 4.0 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Norristown, 17 July: 26.0 µg/m³, 3.5× usual Norristown, 18 July: 28.7 µg/m³, 3.8× usual Norristown, 19 July: 29.6 µg/m³, 3.9× usual Norristown, 20 July: 21.1 µg/m³, 2.8× usual Norristown, 21 July: 7.4 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Norristown, 22 July: 6.9 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Paterson Paterson, 16 July: 6.8 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Paterson, 17 July: 23.3 µg/m³, 2.7× usual Paterson, 18 July: 26.9 µg/m³, 3.2× usual Paterson, 19 July: 29.6 µg/m³, 3.5× usual Paterson, 20 July: 17.9 µg/m³, 2.1× usual Paterson, 21 July: 9.6 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Paterson, 22 July: 4.9 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Philadelphia Philadelphia, 16 July: 4.5 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Philadelphia, 17 July: 24.5 µg/m³, 2.4× usual Philadelphia, 18 July: 26.8 µg/m³, 2.6× usual Philadelphia, 19 July: 31.8 µg/m³, 3.1× usual Philadelphia, 20 July: 23.1 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Philadelphia, 21 July: 10.1 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Philadelphia, 22 July: 9.1 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Elizabeth Elizabeth, 16 July: 9.3 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Elizabeth, 17 July: 22.5 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Elizabeth, 18 July: 24.0 µg/m³, 2.4× usual Elizabeth, 19 July: 34.9 µg/m³, 3.4× usual Elizabeth, 20 July: 25.8 µg/m³, 2.5× usual Elizabeth, 21 July: 14.5 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Elizabeth, 22 July: 7.0 µg/m³, 0.7× usual New York City New York City, 16 July: 6.2 µg/m³, 0.7× usual New York City, 17 July: 16.3 µg/m³, 1.7× usual New York City, 18 July: 18.0 µg/m³, 1.9× usual New York City, 19 July: 32.3 µg/m³, 3.4× usual New York City, 20 July: 20.1 µg/m³, 2.1× usual New York City, 21 July: 11.2 µg/m³, 1.2× usual New York City, 22 July: 5.7 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Linden Linden, 16 July: 5.7 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Linden, 17 July: 22.2 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Linden, 18 July: 20.8 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Linden, 19 July: 31.0 µg/m³, 3.2× usual Linden, 20 July: 20.8 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Linden, 21 July: 10.2 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Linden, 22 July: 6.5 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Fort Lee Fort Lee, 16 July: 3.1 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Fort Lee, 17 July: 17.7 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Fort Lee, 18 July: 17.0 µg/m³, 2.1× usual Fort Lee, 19 July: 30.0 µg/m³, 3.8× usual Fort Lee, 20 July: 15.4 µg/m³, 1.9× usual Fort Lee, 21 July: 8.7 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Fort Lee, 22 July: 3.2 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Pennsauken Pennsauken, 16 July: 4.9 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Pennsauken, 17 July: 23.9 µg/m³, 2.4× usual Pennsauken, 18 July: 24.5 µg/m³, 2.5× usual Pennsauken, 19 July: 30.0 µg/m³, 3.0× usual Pennsauken, 20 July: 22.6 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Pennsauken, 21 July: 9.1 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Pennsauken, 22 July: 7.8 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Jersey City Jersey City, 16 July: 6.9 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Jersey City, 17 July: 16.4 µg/m³, 1.7× usual Jersey City, 18 July: 19.5 µg/m³, 2.1× usual Jersey City, 19 July: 29.5 µg/m³, 3.1× usual Jersey City, 20 July: 21.2 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Jersey City, 21 July: 10.6 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Jersey City, 22 July: 5.1 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Trenton Trenton, 16 July: 5.4 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Trenton, 17 July: 22.1 µg/m³, 2.4× usual Trenton, 18 July: 24.3 µg/m³, 2.6× usual Trenton, 19 July: 29.1 µg/m³, 3.2× usual Trenton, 20 July: 25.1 µg/m³, 2.7× usual Trenton, 21 July: 11.6 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Trenton, 22 July: 7.8 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Toms River Toms River, 16 July: 5.9 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Toms River, 17 July: 13.4 µg/m³, 1.6× usual Toms River, 18 July: 14.3 µg/m³, 1.7× usual Toms River, 19 July: 28.6 µg/m³, 3.4× usual Toms River, 20 July: 23.0 µg/m³, 2.7× usual Toms River, 21 July: 10.8 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Toms River, 22 July: 5.8 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Hempstead Hempstead, 16 July: 3.1 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Hempstead, 17 July: 10.1 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Hempstead, 18 July: 12.0 µg/m³, 1.6× usual Hempstead, 19 July: 28.2 µg/m³, 3.8× usual Hempstead, 20 July: 15.0 µg/m³, 2.0× usual Hempstead, 21 July: 10.5 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Hempstead, 22 July: 4.7 µg/m³, 0.6× usual New Brunswick New Brunswick, 16 July: no reading New Brunswick, 17 July: no reading New Brunswick, 18 July: 24.3 µg/m³, 2.9× usual New Brunswick, 19 July: 27.9 µg/m³, 3.3× usual New Brunswick, 20 July: 20.9 µg/m³, 2.5× usual New Brunswick, 21 July: 11.1 µg/m³, 1.3× usual New Brunswick, 22 July: 6.9 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Bridgeport Bridgeport, 16 July: 9.4 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Bridgeport, 17 July: 11.9 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Bridgeport, 18 July: 19.2 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Bridgeport, 19 July: 27.7 µg/m³, 3.1× usual Bridgeport, 20 July: 16.7 µg/m³, 1.9× usual Bridgeport, 21 July: 19.0 µg/m³, 2.1× usual Bridgeport, 22 July: 8.3 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Ewing Ewing, 16 July: 3.4 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Ewing, 17 July: 23.7 µg/m³, 2.5× usual Ewing, 18 July: 23.4 µg/m³, 2.5× usual Ewing, 19 July: 26.5 µg/m³, 2.8× usual Ewing, 20 July: 21.6 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Ewing, 21 July: 11.1 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Ewing, 22 July: 6.4 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Holbrook Holbrook, 16 July: 3.5 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Holbrook, 17 July: 9.2 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Holbrook, 18 July: 13.0 µg/m³, 1.8× usual Holbrook, 19 July: 25.9 µg/m³, 3.6× usual Holbrook, 20 July: 14.1 µg/m³, 2.0× usual Holbrook, 21 July: 11.2 µg/m³, 1.6× usual Holbrook, 22 July: 3.9 µg/m³, 0.5× usual White Plains White Plains, 16 July: 8.3 µg/m³, 1.4× usual White Plains, 17 July: 19.0 µg/m³, 3.2× usual White Plains, 18 July: 14.9 µg/m³, 2.5× usual White Plains, 19 July: 25.3 µg/m³, 4.3× usual White Plains, 20 July: 12.1 µg/m³, 2.1× usual White Plains, 21 July: 10.7 µg/m³, 1.8× usual White Plains, 22 July: 2.9 µg/m³, 0.5× usual 16 Jul 17 18 19 20 21 22 Every counted city, in the order the episode reached them, 3 days before to 3 after. Each square is a day, coloured by that day's PM2.5; outlined: at twice the city's usual or more. Good 0–50
Moderate 51–100
Sensitive groups 101–150
Unhealthy 151–200
Very unhealthy 201–300
Hazardous 301+
Every city it reached
City Days Highest Usual Above usual
New City New York, United States 1 17 July 5.9 5.3× Newburgh New York, United States 1 17 July 5.9 5.0× Bethlehem Pennsylvania, United States 1 17 July 7.0 4.8× White Plains New York, United States 1 19 July 5.9 4.3× Lancaster Pennsylvania, United States 1 17 July 8.8 4.2× Allentown Pennsylvania, United States 1 17 July 7.6 4.2× Norristown Pennsylvania, United States 1 19 July 7.5 3.9× Hempstead New York, United States 1 19 July 7.5 3.8× Fort Lee New Jersey, United States 1 19 July 8.0 3.8× Reading Pennsylvania, United States 1 17 July 7.6 3.8× Bensalem Pennsylvania, United States 1 19 July 9.0 3.7× Carlisle Pennsylvania, United States 1 17 July 7.7 3.6× Holbrook New York, United States 1 19 July 7.2 3.6× Paterson New Jersey, United States 1 19 July 8.5 3.5× New York City New York, United States 1 19 July 9.4 3.4× Elizabeth New Jersey, United States 1 19 July 10.2 3.4× Harrisburg Pennsylvania, United States 1 19 July 9.3 3.4× Toms River New Jersey, United States 1 19 July 8.5 3.4× Lebanon Pennsylvania, United States 1 17 July 9.0 3.3× New Brunswick New Jersey, United States 1 19 July 8.5 3.3× Linden New Jersey, United States 1 19 July 9.6 3.2× Trenton New Jersey, United States 1 19 July 9.2 3.2× Scranton Pennsylvania, United States 1 17 July 9.0 3.2× Bridgeport Connecticut, United States 1 19 July 8.9 3.1× Jersey City New Jersey, United States 1 19 July 9.5 3.1× Philadelphia Pennsylvania, United States 1 19 July 10.3 3.1× Pennsauken New Jersey, United States 1 19 July 10.0 3.0× Ewing New Jersey, United States 1 19 July 9.4 2.8×
Daily means in µg/m³. Usual: the city's median for this time of year (its days within 21 days of the date, every year, leaving out the week around it). Above usual: its highest day against that.
Against other episodes in the United States
Number 14 of 41 episodes in the United States since our records began, by cities reached.
North-eastern United States and Canada, June and July 2023 279 North-eastern United States and Canada, May and June 2023 260 North-eastern United States and Canada, July 2023 241 North-eastern United States and Canada, June 2023 161 North-western United States and Canada, August 2023 110 North-eastern United States and Canada, July 2023 75 Western United States, September 2023 61 South-eastern United States, October 2023 47 North-eastern United States, July 2023 46 North-western United States and Canada, May 2023 42 Western United States, December 2023 32 Northern United States, January 2023 32 Pennsylvania and New Jersey, United States, July 2023 28 Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 41 .
Use this page SmogRank, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, United States, July 2023: 28 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 19 July 2023, smogrank.com/episodes/2023-07-pennsylvania-and-new-jersey-united-states (accessed 2 October 2026).
Copy citation Download top 10 (PNG)
You're welcome to reuse a single chart, image or figure with this citation and a link. Terms .
An episode is a run of days when many cities close to each other (four or more within 350 km on a day, 8 or more in all) each had a daily PM2.5 mean of at least 25 µg/m³ and at least 2 times their usual for that time of year. Found in our own measurements, not picked by hand. How we find episodes . Values are each city's daily mean of its own monitors; causes are the usual kinds for a pattern like this, not a confirmed source.
