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West Seneca is situated in Erie County, serving as a key suburban component of the greater Buffalo metropolitan area in Western New York. Its geography is characterized by a predominantly flat glacial plain, typical of the Great Lakes basin, which facilitates the movement of air masses across the region. The town is defined by its transition from the dense urban core of Buffalo to the more sprawling, residential landscapes of the outer suburbs. Crucially, its proximity to Lake Erie significantly influences its local climate and air quality profiles. The lake acts as a thermal regulator, but it also generates the infamous lake-effect weather patterns that can trap pollutants near the surface. The landscape is punctuated by the Cazenovia Creek watershed, providing green corridors that offer localized filtration, yet the town remains entwined with the regional industrial belt. This positioning places West Seneca downwind of several legacy industrial zones and heavy traffic corridors, including the nearby New York State Thruway, which introduces a steady stream of vehicular emissions. The urban-rural gradient here is subtle, as residential neighborhoods blend into small agricultural pockets and commercial strips. Because the terrain lacks significant topographic barriers like mountains, air pollutants are primarily managed by wind patterns rather than physical trapping. However, the flat expanse allows for the accumulation of particulate matter during stagnant atmospheric conditions, making the town's air quality a reflection of both local traffic and regional industrial activity and lake influence.

In West Seneca, air quality shifts with the rhythmic changes of the humid continental climate. Winter is often the most challenging season due to temperature inversions, where cold air becomes trapped near the ground, concentrating emissions from residential heating and idling vehicles. During these freezing months, sensitive groups should limit prolonged outdoor exertion during stagnant, windless mornings. Spring brings a transition, where increasing winds typically clear the air, though the season can be marred by the arrival of regional pollen and occasional ozone precursors as temperatures rise. Summer presents a different challenge; high heat and intense sunlight catalyze the formation of ground-level ozone, particularly when stagnant high-pressure systems settle over Western New York. July and August are peak months for ozone sensitivity, requiring residents with asthma to monitor air alerts closely. Autumn generally offers the cleanest air of the year, as cooling temperatures reduce ozone formation and the prevailing westerly winds from Lake Erie scrub the atmosphere of particulate matter. However, the occasional late-season leaf burning in more rural fringes can cause localized spikes in fine particulate matter. Throughout the year, the lake-effect moisture often acts as a natural cleanser, washing pollutants from the sky during heavy precipitation events. For the most vulnerable populations, the most critical periods to remain vigilant are the dead of winter during inversions and the height of humid summer afternoons when photochemical smog is most likely to peak and linger.