MILWAUKEE — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has extended an Air Quality Alert for the entire state of Wisconsin through Noon on Friday, July 17.
The PM2.5 AQI is expected to reach the Unhealthy (Red) to Hazardous (Maroon) level. As of 7:00 a.m. in the morning on Thursday, July 16, the widespread Very Unhealthy (Purple) to Hazardous (Maroon) AQI PM2.5 is being observed nearly
statewide.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) focuses on health effects that people may experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air.
The AQI is based on levels of five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act:
1. Ground-level Ozone (O3)
2. Particle Pollution, also known as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5)
3. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
4. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and
5. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
The Wisconsin DNR says surface analysis at 4:00 a.m. placed the boundary from approximately Prairie du Chien to Platteville, with cleaner air to the south and west of this boundary in portions of Grant, Lafayette, and Crawford Counties.
They report that although this boundary may meander to the northeast from roughly 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and bring cleaner air further into far southwest Wisconsin, the boundary is then likely to sag back southwest overnight into Friday, July 17 in the morning.
The DNR expects to see clearing of the smoke from west to east throughout the day on July 17, as southerly winds pick
up ahead of an approaching system, which was the reason for the Air Quality Alert extension.
To prepare for the potentially dangerous condition, the DNR recommends:
- Sensitive groups: Stay indoors and keep activity levels light and follow tips for keeping particle levels low indoors.
- People with asthma: Follow your asthma action plan and keep quick-relief medicine handy.
- People with heart disease: Symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious
problem and to contact one’s health care provider. - Everyone: Avoid all physical activity outdoors.
