Another day, another air quality alert for Michigan from Canadian fires

Wildfire smoke from Canada triggers an air quality alert in Michigan
The air quality index in southeast Michigan is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups
Temperatures are expected to reach the upper 80s for much of the week in lower Michigan and hit 90 on Thursday

Wildfire smoke blowing from Canada on Tuesday triggered another air quality alert for much of metro Detroit and other parts of the Lower Peninsula

This is one of several air quality alerts over the summer because of continuous wildfires. Smoke has traveled at least 500 miles toward southeast Michigan from Canada’s worst fire season in modern history.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy issued an air quality action day for elevated levels of fine particulate in several counties including Midland, Bay, Tuscola, Sanilac, St. Clair, Lapeer, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe counties.

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Nationwide, some 70 million people are living under air quality alerts in a dozen states from Montana to Vermont, according to CNN.

According to the AirNow website, the Air Quality Index in parts of southeast Michigan is unhealthy for people with lung disease or asthma, children, older adults and other underlying conditions.

Ozone and hazy, polluted air can cause chest pain, headaches, heart palpitations and eye irritation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection.

Residents are encouraged to limit outdoor activities such as driving and fueling a vehicle. Wearing a mask can also help.

The alert is expected to lift early Wednesday morning, while the rest of the week will be unseasonably hot throughout Michigan.

Temperatures in the upper 80s are forecast in southeast Michigan until Thursday and could hit the mid-90s on Friday. In the northern Lower Peninsula, temperatures in the mid-80s are likely until Saturday.

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