La Crosse, Wisconsin – Canadian wildfire smoke continues to choke much of southwest Wisconsin, pushing air quality into the “Unhealthy” range and prompting a statewide advisory through noon Friday.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the National Weather Service in La Crosse, an Air Quality Alert remains in effect for counties including La Crosse, Vernon, Monroe, Clark, Trempealeau, and Crawford. PM2.5 pollutant levels are expected to remain elevated throughout Friday, with slow improvement likely by the weekend. Additional Air Quality Advisories may be issued depending on wind shifts and smoke plumes.
Residents in La Crosse, Prairie du Chien, Sparta, and surrounding communities are urged to limit outdoor activity—especially those with asthma or heart disease. Sensitive groups should remain indoors with air purifiers running and medications accessible. Children and older adults are also at increased risk.
While skies are expected to clear Saturday, elevated AQI values may persist for parts of central and western Wisconsin into early next week. Daily evaluations of the smoke’s path and intensity will continue.
The current advisory expires at noon Friday, but conditions could warrant extensions into Saturday.
Five-Day Forecast for La Crosse, WI:
- Friday: Areas of smoke, mostly sunny. High near 78°F. Calm wind.
- Saturday: Sunny and clearer skies. High near 79°F.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny. High near 79°F.
- Monday: Mostly sunny. High near 81°F.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny and warmer. High near 84°F.
