Air Quality Alert Issued 11:06AM for Washtenaw County

An Air Quality Alert has been issued for Midland, Bay, Huron, Saginaw, Tuscola, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, Lenawee, and Monroe counties, valid from August 3rd through August 4th, due to elevated levels of fine particulates (PM2.5) reaching the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange AQI) and potentially Unhealthy (Red AQI) levels, primarily from wildfire smoke.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
(EGLE) has issued an Air Quality Advisory for elevated levels of
fine particulates (PM2.5) across the state of Michigan. Pollutants
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 is in effect for the following Michigan
counties…

Midland…Bay…Huron…Saginaw…Tuscola…Sanilac…Shiawassee…
Genesee…Lapeer…St. Clair…Livingston…Oakland…Macomb…
Washtenaw…Wayne…Lenawee and Monroe.

Wildfire smoke looks to persist throughout Michigan through at least
Monday as winds shift, although it stays rather light. Overall
hourly concentrations look to diminish but still stay in the USG
range, therefore above Advisory criteria.

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 further information, please see EPAs Air Now site for
up-to-date air quality data: https://www.airnow.gov/

For further health information, please see MDHHS Wildfire Smoke
and Your Health site:

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/
your-health-and-wildfire-smoke

Click here to see original alert