WWA Summary for Air Quality Alert Issued by MQT

Air Quality Alert

MIZ001>007-009>014-084-085-181600-
Keweenaw-Ontonagon-Northern Houghton-Baraga-Marquette-Alger-Luce-
Gogebic-Iron-Dickinson-Menominee-Delta-Southern Schoolcraft-
Southern Houghton-Northern Schoolcraft-
1039 AM EDT Fri Jul 17 2026 /939 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026/

...AIR QUALITY ALERT THROUGH SATURDAY JULY 18...

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
(EGLE) has issued an Air Quality Alert for July 17 and July 18 2026,
for elevated levels of fine particulate due to wildfire smoke.
Concentrations on Friday will range from Very Unhealthy in southern
areas to Hazardous in the north. On Saturday concentrations will
range from Unhealthy to Sensitive Groups (USG) in the south to Very
Unhealthy in northern portions of the state.

This is a Statewide Air Quality Alert.

Plumes of smoke from Canadian wildfires continue to drift across the
region. Elevated fine particulate due to the smoke will continue
through Saturday. The threat of increased ozone may come into play
Saturday as well.

Everyone should seek cleaner air indoors and keep activity levels
low. While indoors, take action to improve the indoor air quality
such as:

- Close windows and minimize opening of doors.
- If HVAC systems are not equipped with MERV-13 filters or higher,
  use portable air cleaners.
- Avoid activities that make indoor air quality worse such as burning
  candles, using vacuums without a HEPA filter, using gas stoves more
  than necessary, smoking, and spraying aerosol products.

If you must be outdoors for short periods of time:

- Wear an N95 or P100 respirator marked with NIOSH. The respirator
  should fit tightly, collapse as you breathe in and not let air in
  from the sides.
- Do not use masks for children under age 2.

For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan, visit the MiAir site:
Michigan.gov/MiAir

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` Wildfire Smoke and
Your Health site at https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-
prev/environmental-health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke.

Air Quality Alert
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
July 17 2026

$$

MNZ011-012-019>021-037-201600-
North St. Louis-Northern Cook and Lake-Central St. Louis-
Southern Lake-Southern Cook-Carlton and South St. Louis-
Including the cities of Ely, Isabella, Hibbing, Two Harbors,
Silver Bay, Grand Marais, and Duluth
1236 PM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026


...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM CDT MONDAY...

* WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air
Quality Alert for fine particles pollution. The Air Quality Index
(AQI) is expected to reach the Maroon or Hazardous category.

* WHERE...Northeast Minnesota.

* WHEN...Until 11 AM CDT Monday.

* IMPACTS...Everyone is more likely to be affected.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...While heavy smoke retreats across portions
of north central and northeastern Minnesota today, heavy smoke is
expected to persist across much of northeastern Minnesota through
the weekend and into Monday. A separate area of heavy smoke will
move across northwestern Minnesota this morning and afternoon.
Northwestern Minnesota should see improved air quality by this
evening. Additional heavy smoke may move south from Canada this
weekend, and the air quality alert may need to be extended into
east central and southeastern Minnesota.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including
asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, should
remain indoors and keep activity levels low. The general public
should avoid all physical activities outdoors. Reduce or
eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as
outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices.
Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible. Keep
windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors.

&&

For information on current air quality conditions in your area
and to sign up for daily air quality forecasts and alert
notifications by email, text message, phone, or the EPA AirNow
mobile app, visit https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-
climate/current-air- quality-conditions. You can find additional
information about health and air quality at
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land- climate/air-quality-
and-health. Poor air quality can impact pets and animals. More
information regarding pet and animal safety can be found at
https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-06/protect- your-
pets-factsheet.pdf and https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-
owners/emergencycare/wildfire-smoke-and-animals.

$$

MIZ016>018-020>036-041-042-086>088-095>099-181600-
Emmet-Cheboygan-Presque Isle-Leelanau-Antrim-Otsego-Montmorency-
Alpena-Benzie-Grand Traverse-Kalkaska-Crawford-Oscoda-Alcona-
Manistee-Wexford-Missaukee-Roscommon-Ogemaw-Iosco-Gladwin-Arenac-
Western Chippewa-Central Chippewa-Southeast Chippewa-
Western Mackinac-Eastern Mackinac-Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island-
Beaver Island and surrounding islands-Charlevoix-
909 AM EDT Fri Jul 17 2026

...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY...

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is
continuing the Air Quality Alert for Friday July 17, and Saturday
July 18. The alert is in effect due to elevated levels of fine
particulates (PM2.5). Pollutants are expected to be in the Hazardous
category for today for northern Michigan...and in the Very Unhealthy
range on Saturday.

The alert is in effect for the following northern Michigan counties:
Emmet... Cheboygan...Presque Isle...Charlevoix...Leelanau...Antrim...
Otsego... Montmorency...Alpena...Benzie...Grand Traverse...Kalkaska...
Crawford...Oscoda...Alcona...Manistee...Wexford...Missaukee...
Roscommon...Ogemaw...Iosco...Gladwin...Arenac...Chippewa...and
Mackinac

Plumes of smoke from Canadian wildfires continue to drift across
northern Michigan. Elevated fine particulate due to the smoke will
continue through Saturday. The threat of increased ozone may also
come into play Saturday.

Everyone should seek cleaner air indoors and avoid strenuous outdoor
activities...especially those with heart disease and respiratory
diseases such as asthma. Watch for symptoms including wheezing...
coughing...chest tightness...dizziness...or burning in nose...
throat...and eyes.

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. If you must be outdoors...
wear an N95 or P100 respirator marked with "NIOSH"

For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan, visit the MiAir site:
https://michigan.gov/MiAir

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` Wildfire Smoke and
Your Health site at https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-
prev/environmental-health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke.

$$

JPB