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AEUS73 KIWX 312012
AQAIWX

Air Quality Alert Message
Relayed by National Weather Service Northern Indiana
412 PM EDT Thu Jul 31 2025

MIZ078>081-177-277-020815-
Cass MI-St. Joseph MI-Branch-Hillsdale-Northern Berrien-
Southern Berrien-
Including the cities of Dowagiac, Cassopolis, Edwardsburg,
Marcellus, Sturgis, Three Rivers, White Pigeon, Mendon, Coldwater,
Bronson, Hillsdale, Jonesville, Litchfield, Benton Harbor,
St. Joseph, Paw Paw Lake, Niles, New Buffalo, Stevensville,
and Berrien Springs
412 PM EDT Thu Jul 31 2025

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY, AUGUST 2ND...

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
(EGLE) has issued an Air Quality Advisory for elevated levels of fine
particulate (PM2.5) across the state of Michigan. Pollutants across
the state are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
(USG, Orange AQI) range with some locations reaching the Unhealthy
(Red AQI) range.

The Air Quality Advisory includes all Michigan counties.

Smoke from Canadian wildfires remains over the state Thursday, with
PM2.5 concentrations ranging from USG to Unhealthy. Some locations,
mostly in the Lower Peninsula, may experience improvements in air
quality from late Thursday into Friday, however, that is expected to
be short-lived as additional smoke plumes drop into the region. High
pressure settling overhead will limit dispersion and keep smoke at
the surface through the end of the week. This sustains the threat of
increased PM2.5 and readings in the USG range will continue through
Saturday, with some locations reaching the Unhealthy range.

It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor
activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory
diseases like asthma. Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing,
coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat,
and eyes.

Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution,
such as:
 * outdoor burning,
 * use of residential wood burning devices.

Tips for households: Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke
from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning
with MERV-13 or higher rated filters.

For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan visit the MiAir site:
https://air-egle.hub.arcgis.com/

For up-to-date air quality data nationally visit EPA`s Air Now site:
https://www.airnow.gov/

For further health information, please see MDHHS`s Wildfire Smoke
and You Health site:
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-
health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke

$$