Madison, Wisconsin – Wildfire smoke from Canada is blanketing southern Wisconsin, pushing air quality into the “unhealthy” range for all residents in several counties through at least noon Thursday.
According to the National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan, the dense smoke will linger through Wednesday night and may extend into Thursday afternoon, especially in low-lying areas where atmospheric mixing is limited. An air quality advisory remains in effect for all of southern Wisconsin, including Dane, Milwaukee, Rock, and Racine counties.
Residents with asthma, heart conditions, or other respiratory concerns are urged to avoid strenuous outdoor activity, stay indoors with filtered air if possible, and monitor symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath. Even healthy individuals are advised to limit prolonged outdoor exposure and take extra breaks if working outside.
The advisory marks one of the season’s most widespread smoke events so far, with similar impacts seen during last summer’s wildfires. Visibility may also be reduced on roads, especially during early morning hours.
The air quality advisory remains in effect until at least noon Thursday, with updates possible depending on smoke dispersion patterns.
