Portland’s Air Quality Hits Global Worst | Portland News

Portland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 5, 2026 · 1m

Portland’s air quality is officially the worst in the world right now, with smoke from raging wildfires—especially the Grasshopper Fire east of Mt. Hood—pushing the Air Quality Index to 159, surpassing cities like Delhi and Kuwait. The smoky haze has forced Portland Parks & Recreation to shut down all pools and cancel outdoor programs, making even a swim unsafe. This isn’t just one fire—it’s a regional crisis fueled by millions of acres burned this season, prompting statewide air alerts. Forecasters say relief may arrive Thursday as ocean winds push smoke out, with cleaner air hopefully…