Detroit, Michigan – Smoky skies and poor air quality are blanketing Michigan through Thursday night, with statewide advisories warning residents of heightened health risks, especially for children, seniors, and those with heart or lung disease. Unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) will persist until midnight Thursday, July 31, as smoke from Canadian wildfires settles across the region.
According to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), most counties—including Wayne, Oakland, Grand Traverse, Kent, Washtenaw, and the Upper Peninsula—are under an Air Quality Advisory. Air Quality Index values are expected to reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (Orange AQI) category statewide, with some northern areas tipping briefly into the “Unhealthy” (Red AQI) range. The advisory covers all major metro areas: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Flint, Traverse City, Marquette, and more.
The smoky plume arrived Tuesday in the Upper Peninsula and pushed south early Wednesday. Visibility may drop in places like Alpena, Kalamazoo, and Lansing. Residents are urged to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with asthma or heart conditions. EGLE also recommends keeping windows closed, running central air with high-quality filters, and limiting sources of indoor air pollution.
Symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness, and eye irritation are possible. Health officials advise monitoring the AirNow.gov and Michigan’s MiAir site for the latest data. The current air quality episode mirrors similar events in June and July 2023, and more advisories are possible if winds do not shift.
The advisory remains in effect until at least midnight Thursday, with the next update expected Thursday afternoon.
