Air Quality Alert

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