Air Quality Alert Issued 9:07AM for Washtenaw County, MI

An urgent 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 areas, effective July 17-18, 2026, due to hazardous wildfire smoke causing very unhealthy to hazardous air conditions. Residents are advised to stay indoors and take measures to improve air quality while avoiding outdoor activities.

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 of 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:
– closing 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: burning
candles, using vacuums without a HEPA filter, using gas stoves more
than necessary, smoking, 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 EPAs Air Now site:
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

View Washtenaw County Forecast