Weather Story

Smoke Impacts Linger

Air Quality Alert

Dense Smoke Across Upper Michigan

Smoke impacts linger as high pressure settles overhead. Scattered showers and thunderstorms develop Friday, which may help clear dense smoke concentrations into the weekend. Please continue to follow safety guidance from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Alert for all of the state of Michigan through Thursday due to elevated levels of particulates produced from wildfires in Canada. If possible, avoid strenuous outdoors activities, especially for those with heart disease and respiratory illnesses such as asthma. For more information, please visit the EPA’s Air Now site for up-to-date air quality data: https://www.airnow.gov

Smoke across the region is coming from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota. This is resulting in poor air quality across the Upper Great Lakes. Recommendations: avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially if you have heart disease and respiratory conditions; keep an eye out for symptoms (wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in the nose, throat and eyes); keep windows closed to prevent smoke from getting indoors; if possible run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters.