403
AEUS73 KIWX 181444
AQAIWX
AIR QUALITY ALERT MESSAGE
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
1044 AM EDT SAT JUL 18 2026
MIZ078>081-177-277-200400-
CASS MI-ST. JOSEPH MI-BRANCH-HILLSDALE-NORTHERN BERRIEN-
SOUTHERN BERRIEN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF DOWAGIAC, CASSOPOLIS, EDWARDSBURG,
MARCELLUS, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, WHITE PIGEON, MENDON, COLDWATER,
BRONSON, HILLSDALE, JONESVILLE, LITCHFIELD, BENTON HARBOR,
ST. JOSEPH, PAW PAW LAKE, NILES, NEW BUFFALO, STEVENSVILLE,
AND BERRIEN SPRINGS
1044 AM EDT SAT JUL 18 2026
..AIR QUALITY ALERT FOR SUNDAY JULY 19
THE AIR QUALITY ALERT FOR TODAY, SATURDAY JULY 18TH - HAS BEEN
CANCELLED FOR THE COUNTIES OF BERRIEN, CASS, ST. JOSEPH, BRANCH AND
HILLSDALE.
THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY
(EGLE) HAS DECLARED AN AIR QUALITY ALERT FOR SUNDAY JULY 19, FOR
ELEVATED LEVELS OF FINE PARTICULATE (PM2.5) IN PARTS OF SOUTHWEST
MICHIGAN. POLLUTANTS WITHIN THOSE AREAS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS (USG, ORANGE AQI) RANGE.
THE AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN...
BERRIEN, CASS, ST. JOSEPH, BRANCH AND HILLSDALE.
SMOKE HAS IMPROVED ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF MICHIGAN THIS
MORNING. HOWEVER, ANOTHER PLUME IS FORECASTED TO MOVE FROM NORTH TO
SOUTH ACROSS THE STATE LATER TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY. CONCENTRATION
LEVELS WILL BE HIGH ENOUGH TO WARRANT A STATEWIDE ALERT.
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:
MICHIGAN.GOV/MIAIR
FOR UP-TO-DATE AIR QUALITY DATA NATIONALLY VISIT EPA'S AIR NOW SITE:
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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