Marquette, Michigan – Smoke-choked skies will continue to blanket Michigan’s Upper Peninsula through Thursday, July 31, as air quality dips to dangerous levels for sensitive groups.
According to the National Weather Service in Marquette, an Air Quality Advisory remains in effect for all of western and central Upper Michigan through noon Thursday. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) reports that fine particulate levels (PM2.5) are elevated due to Canadian wildfire smoke, with conditions expected to stay in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category for another 36 hours.
Residents in Marquette, Houghton, Keweenaw, Dickinson, Gogebic, and Iron Counties should avoid outdoor exertion, especially along major routes like US-41 where haze is thickest. People with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory issues should stay indoors, run filtered A/C, and monitor symptoms such as chest tightness, coughing, or dizziness.
Smoke concentrations are likely to peak again early Thursday morning before slowly dispersing midday. A brief period of even worse conditions—reaching “Unhealthy” red AQI levels—remains possible overnight.
🔎 What’s Ahead: Extended Forecast for Marquette
- Thursday, July 31: Sunny, high near 70°F, winds light and variable. Haze may linger in the morning.
- Friday: Clear skies, warming to 75°F. Winds shift to the northeast.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny with a high near 80°F. Ideal weekend weather.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, high near 78°F.
- Monday, August 5: Partly cloudy, high around 77°F. Great start to August with no rain in sight.
☀️ Expect the first week of August to bring clear skies, warmer temps, and improved air quality—but until then, caution is still key.
