Air quality right now
The Air Quality Health Index for Winnipeg and what the number means for your lungs and your plans.
The Air Quality Health Index, or AQHI, is Canada’s national air quality scale. It runs from 1 to 10 and above, where a higher number means a greater risk to health from air pollution over the next few hours. Unlike a raw pollution reading, it is weighted toward the pollutants that actually affect health, and it is designed so that the same number means roughly the same risk in every Canadian city.
Environment Canada reading: 2:00 PM CDT Friday 25 September 2026
Ideal air quality for outdoor activities. Enjoy your usual outdoor activities.
What the numbers mean
| AQHI | Risk | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 3 | Low risk | Ideal air quality for outdoor activity. |
| 4 – 6 | Moderate risk | No need to change your plans unless you have symptoms. Consider easing off strenuous outdoor activity if you cough or feel discomfort. |
| 7 – 10 | High risk | Reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoor activity. Children and older adults should take it easy. Keep reliever medication close by if you have heart or breathing problems. |
| Above 10 | Very high risk | Avoid strenuous outdoor activity. People with heart or breathing problems should stay indoors and keep activity levels low. |
Who should pay closest attention
The AQHI exists mainly for people whose health suffers first when air quality drops. That includes people with asthma, COPD or heart conditions, young children, older adults, and anyone doing strenuous work or exercise outdoors. Wildfire smoke is the single largest cause of short-lived spikes in Canadian cities, and it can push a city from low to very high within hours.
If smoke is in the air
- Move strenuous exercise indoors or to a day when the index is lower.
- Keep windows closed and run a filter if you have one; a portable HEPA unit in one room creates a clean space.
- Check whether your municipality offers clean-air shelter spaces — Winnipeg’s own pages are linked from the city services page.
- Do not rely on a cloth mask; a well-fitted N95 or equivalent is what filters smoke particles.
- Watch for chest pain, severe shortness of breath or wheezing, and seek medical care if it appears.
Official sources
- Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) — current and forecast
- Environment Canada — air quality data on MSC GeoMet
Details such as fares, fees, hours and program rules change. Always confirm against the official source before acting on anything time-sensitive.