Unhealthy smoke levels on Friday in Maryland
By Ava Marie
Published on July 17, 2026.
The air quality in Maryland will continue to worsen on Friday as more smoke from the Canadian wildfires settles in, causing widespread unhealthy air quality across Maryland, including the Baltimore area. The smoke will clear out on Saturday with an increased chance for thunderstorms, which will be capable of damaging wind gusts. The risk can be reduced by spending more time indoors and wearing a well-fitted N95 mask while outdoors. Use the WBAL-TV 11 News app and turn on push alerts to be aware of changing weather conditions. Share your weather photos and videos, which may be shown on WBAL TV 11 News or online.
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