Denver on Alert After Suffering Planet’s Worst Air Quality

Denver Suffered Planet’s Worst Air Quality Over Weekend

Denver was under pollution alert Monday after suffering the worst air quality among the world’s major cities over the weekend -- and another round of smoke is in the forecast for Tuesday.

The Colorado capital was ranked No. 1 on the IQAir pollution index Saturday afternoon and slipped to No. 2 on Sunday as smoke from California wildfires blanketed the city at the base of the Rocky Mountains.

By Monday afternoon, it occupied the No. 3 position behind No. 1 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and No. 2 Kabul, Afghanistan.

On Saturday, during the worst of it, Denver’s air reeked of soot and the sun cast a yellow pale on sidewalks and buildings in the city, which is at an elevation of 5,280 feet (1,609 meters).

Monday afternoon skies were overcast with a temperature of 93 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Celsius).

The National Weather Service maintained a hazardous weather alert for Denver and vicinity on Monday and called for “widespread smoke” into Tuesday. The weather service told residents “if smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors.”

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

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