Denver Top 5 For Worst Air Quality in the World

When you woke up this morning, you probably were not expecting to have burning, itching eyes and a scratchy throat. That was all thanks to the smoke drifting into Colorado.

silhouette of trees during sunset

On Monday, August 3, 2026, the smoke was thick in the sky, hindering the view and making everyone feel groggy. Couple the wildfire smoke with 100-degree temperatures, and it made for quite a miserable Monday.

Wildfire Smoke Drifts Into Colorado

The smoke in the sky is coming from wildfires burning in Utah, Nevada, and the Pacific Northwest, which were all made worse by the cold front that pushed through the Front Range of Colorado late Monday afternoon.

The smoke was so bad in the past 24 hours that it registered Denver, Colorado, on the list of one of the worst locations in the world for air quality. According to IQAir, Denver was number five on the list for the worst locations.

READ MORE: Where is the Smoke in Northern Colorado Coming From?

Thankfully, at the time of writing this, the air quality has improved across the Front Range of Colorado. However, we are still under an Air Quality Alert from the National Weather Service.

Front Range Remains Under Air Quality Alert

The Air Quality Alert was issued at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning, through 9 a.m. Wednesday. Some areas could see moderate to heavy wildfire smoke. Those who suffer from heart disease, respiratory illnesses, young children, and older adults should limit activity outdoors while the smoke is present.