Milwaukee, Wisconsin – A thick blanket of wildfire smoke is set to grip Milwaukee and much of southern Wisconsin through midday Monday, bringing air quality to unhealthy levels for sensitive groups and prompting an urgent call to limit outdoor activities.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, a statewide Air Quality Alert remains in effect until 12:00 PM CDT Monday, July 14, with the highest impacts expected along the I-94 corridor, including Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Kenosha. Residents—especially those with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions—should avoid strenuous outdoor activities, keep windows closed, and use air purifiers where possible.
By late Monday, PM2.5 concentrations are expected to remain elevated, with Canadian wildfire smoke pushing through central and southeastern Wisconsin. Local health officials recommend rescheduling outdoor plans, monitoring symptoms like shortness of breath, and checking updated air quality readings at airquality.wi.gov.
Travelers on I-94, I-43, and area highways should expect reduced visibility in smoky areas. School and daycare operators are urged to keep children indoors during recess. Milwaukee, Madison, Waukesha, and Sheboygan are all under heightened risk, with advisories also extending to Baraboo, West Bend, and Janesville.
The current alert is in response to a surge of Canadian wildfire smoke—similar to the June 2023 event that blanketed the Midwest. Forecasters say these smoky conditions may ease by Monday afternoon, but lingering haze could affect visibility and air quality through the week.
What’s Next:
Another round of thunderstorms is possible late Wednesday and Thursday, offering some relief as winds shift. Warnings remain in effect for air quality through midday Monday, and further advisories are possible if smoke persists.
Milwaukee Five-Day Forecast (July 14–18):
- Monday: Sunny, high near 86°F. Air Quality Alert through 12 PM.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, low 68°F.
- Tuesday: Sunny, high 86°F.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, slight chance of showers after 1 AM, low 70°F.
- Wednesday: Chance of showers and thunderstorms (50%), high 86°F.
- Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely (50%), low 66°F.
- Thursday: Slight chance of storms early, then partly sunny, high 76°F.
- Friday: Partly sunny, high 79°F.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, slight chance of storms.
Stay tuned for updated advisories as smoky conditions may persist or return. For real-time alerts, check the National Weather Service and Wisconsin DNR updates.
