ESCANABA — An air quality advisory has ben issued for the Upper Peninsula — including Delta, Menominee and Schoolcraft counties — throughout the weekend. Smoke from wildfires in Canada is making air unhealthy throughout the region and vulnerable persons are being urged to take caution.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) issued an Air Quality Advisory for elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) across Michigan. Pollutants are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG, Orange AQI) range from Thursday until Saturday with some locations reaching the Unhealthy (Red AQI) range.

The Air Quality Advisory includes all Michigan counties.

Smoke from Canadian wildfires remains over the state Thursday, with PM2.5 concentrations ranging from USG to Unhealthy. Some locations, mostly in the Lower Peninsula, may experience improvements in air quality from late Thursday into Friday; however, that is expected to be short-lived as additional plumes drop into the region. High pressure settling overhead will limit dispersion and keep smoke at the surface through the end of the week. This sustains the threat of increased PM2.5 and readings in the USG range will continue Thursday through Saturday, with some locations reaching as high as the Unhealthy range.

It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma. Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and eyes. Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as:

– outdoor burning;

– use of residential wood burning devices.

Tips for households:

– Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters.

For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan visit the MiAir site: https://air-egle.hub.arcgis.com/