It’s summertime and the weather is – well, very smoky.
 
This week’s summer heat wave is being compounded by rapidly deteriorating air quality levels expected through today and at least through Thursday. The hazy conditions are blamed on numerous Canadian wildfires burning out of control north of Minnesota.
 
“This is just straight fallout from wildfires in northwest Ontario,” says Joel Veeneman, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Gaylord. “For at least the next couple of days, it’s going to be looking very apocalyptic out there.”
 
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) issued a statewide Air Quality Alert for elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) through at least noon Thursday. A media advisory today from EGLE advised that through Wednesday airborne pollutants are in the “Unhealthy” range – colored red on the AQI (Air Quality Index) - in the northern Lower Peninsula and eastern Upper Peninsula.  Levels could reach the “Very Unhealthy” category (AQI purple) in the western Upper Peninsula, with the possibility some hourly readings could reach Hazardous (AQI maroon) levels.
 
For Thursday, EGLE is forecasting “Very Unhealthy”(AQI purple) conditions in the Upper Peninsula with “Unhealthy” (AQI red) conditions for the rest of the state.  Some hourly readings could reach “Hazardous” (AQI maroon).

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) advises residents to monitor air quality conditions in their area and adjust their level of physical activity and take protective actions.  It also recommends seeking shelter  if you do not have an air conditioner and it’s too warm to stay inside with the windows closed. Residents can call or text 211 or contact their local health department for information on shelters or nearby cooling centers. They can also seek relief in air-conditioned public places such as a library or shopping mall.

Veeneman says it’s difficult to forecast how long the smoky conditions will continue, and how far the smoke will spread across the Midwest. Air quality advisories are issued daily by EGLE and the next update is set for Thursday morning.

There may be some relief on the horizon at the end of week as some rainfall is expected to move through the region.

“I don’t think it will necessarily resolve the issue, but that kind of precipitation helps get some of those particulates out of the air,” Veeneman says.