First Alert: Air Quality Warning in Michigan from Wildfire Smoke

First Alert Weather Days Declared for Michigan

LANSING, Mich. – Wednesday and Thursday have been officially designated as First Alert Weather Days in Michigan due to deteriorating air quality. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has issued a statewide Air Quality Alert for Wednesday, July 15, caused by smoke from wildfires in Canada.

The alert was announced on Tuesday morning by EGLE officials, who noted that levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air have risen significantly. According to the Air Quality Index, pollutants may reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” level (AQI Orange) in the Lower Peninsula and “Unhealthy” (AQI Red) in the Upper Peninsula.

When the AQI reaches orange, members of sensitive groups—such as children, the elderly, pregnant individuals, and those with heart or lung conditions—may experience health effects. However, the general public is less likely to be affected at this level.

If the AQI moves to red, some members of the general public may also experience health effects, while sensitive groups could face more severe consequences. To stay informed about the latest forecast, residents are encouraged to check the First Alert Weather page regularly.

“In terms of wildfire smoke, we have been fortunate so far in 2026. Unfortunately, our luck has run out as the fires north of the Minnesota arrowhead have rapidly expanded overnight, and satellite imagery shows large areas of smoke headed our way,” the department stated in a press release.

“Current models suggest that dense smoke could reach the Michigan/Indiana border late in the day,” said EGLE officials. The smoke is expected to “likely linger” through Thursday or even longer, according to the department. Updates on the air quality forecast will be provided on Thursday morning.

This alert comes as much of Michigan experiences extreme heat, with temperatures expected to remain in the upper 90s on Wednesday and lower 90s through Friday.