Air Quality Alert Message...Updated

Full Alert Message

Air Quality Alert Message...Updated Relayed by National Weather Service Gaylord MI 1150 AM EDT Thu Jul 16 2026 ...AIR QUALITY ALERT TODAY AND FRIDAY JULY 17... The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has issued an Air Quality Alert for today and Friday July 17, for elevated levels of fine particulates (PM2.5) due to wildfire smoke. Pollutants will be in the Hazardous range. The alert is in effect for all of northern Michigan. This includes the following counties, Roscommon, Charlevoix, Missaukee, Wexford, Beaver Island and surrounding islands, Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island, Manistee, Emmet, Iosco, Ogemaw, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Eastern Mackinac, Alcona, Western Mackinac, Montmorency, Southeast Chippewa, Otsego, Central Chippewa, Antrim, Western Chippewa, Arenac, Leelanau, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Alpena, Oscoda, Crawford, and Gladwin. It is recommended that everyone should seek cleaner air indoors, and keep activity levels low. While indoors, you can improve indoor air quality by: closing windows and minimize opening of doors; use HVAC systems with MERV-13 filters or higher, or use portable air cleaners; and avoid activities that make indoor air quality worse, such as burning candles, using vacuums without a HEPA filter, using gas stoves, smoking, and spraying aerosol products. If you must be outdoors for short periods of time, an N95 or P100 respirator marked with NIOSH is recommended. 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: 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.