From Wed 07:00 PM till Wed 07:00 PM

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has declared an Air Quality Alert starting midnight tonight through Noon EDT Monday, July 14th, for elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) in parts of southwest Michigan. Pollutants within those areas are expected to be in the USG to Unhealthy (Orange and Red AQI) range. The Air Quality Alert is in effect for the following counties in southwest Michigan... Berrien, Cass, St Joseph, Branch, and Hillsdale Wildfire smoke from Canada will push into Michigan from Saturday to Monday. Increased fine particulate levels will reach the western portion of the Upper Peninsula on Saturday afternoon. The smoke will push east and south, expanding across the rest of the state as Sunday progresses. Highest concentrations will be seen in northern parts of the state, but southwest Michigan can expect levels of fine particulate in the Moderate to USG range. 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 up-to-date air quality data nationally visit EPA's Air Now site: https://www.airnow.gov/ For further health information, please see MDHHS's Wildfire Smoke and You Health site: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental- health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke

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