La Crosse, Wisconsin – Wildfire smoke from Canada continues to blanket southwest Wisconsin, bringing unhealthy air quality levels to much of the state through Sunday. Vulnerable groups are being urged to limit time outdoors as smoke concentrations remain elevated across the region.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the National Weather Service in La Crosse, an Air Quality Advisory remains in effect for counties including La Crosse, Monroe, Jackson, Trempealeau, and Crawford through at least Sunday. PM2.5 levels remain at “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” to “Unhealthy” in many areas, with improvement expected slowly into early next week.
The haze has visibly settled over cities like La Crosse, Sparta, and Black River Falls, with reduced visibility and lingering smoke odor. Those with asthma, heart conditions, or respiratory concerns are encouraged to stay indoors, use air purifiers if available, and avoid strenuous activity outside.
While gradual improvement is possible by Monday, another pocket of smoke could push AQI levels back to unhealthy in parts of northern and western Wisconsin. Residents should continue checking airquality.wi.gov for real-time updates.
Five-Day Forecast for La Crosse, WI:
- Saturday: Areas of smoke early, then mostly sunny. High near 79°F.
- Sunday: Hazy with smoke, especially afternoon. High near 80°F.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, light winds. High near 81°F.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, warmer. High near 83°F.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny with slight chance of storms. High near 85°F.
