There’s a haze over northern Michigan again, thanks to wildfires along the border of Ontario and Quebec.
This time, there’s an air quality alert along with the smoggy skies.
A low pressure system has blown a northeasterly wind toward northern Michigan, including a plume of smoke and particulate matter from the wildfires.
With particulate levels in the “unhealthy” and “very unhealthy” range, meteorologist Alec Kownacki said that even those without respiratory issues should avoid outdoor activity.
Check the current air quality near you.
“If you go outside, you might notice a sore throat, [have] trouble breathing, especially if you’re doing exerting-type work outside. You could also notice eye irritation,” said Kownacki, who works for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
The plume is expected to stick around until there’s a change in wind pattern, likely late Wednesday or sometime Thursday.
“If we get a really strong westerly wind coming in, that would help blow out all the smoke and keep the smoke out of the area because the fires are to the northeast of us,” Kownacki explained.
Until that happens, said Kownacki, it’s best to stay indoors whenever possible and wear an N-95 mask outside.
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