FORECAST SUMMARY: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 through Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Air Quality Alert for Wednesday, July 15, 2026
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is issuing a statewide Air Quality Alert for elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) for Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Pollutants within those areas could reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (AQI Orange) in the Lower Peninsula and Unhealthy (AQI Red) in the Upper Peninsula.
Ozone: 8-hour average Ozone Particulate concentrations are expected to be mostly Good (AQI Green) to Moderate (AQI Yellow) for the forecast period.
PM-2.5: 24-hour average Fine Particulate concentrations are expected to be USG (AQI Orange) in the Lower Peninsula and Unhealthy (AQI Red) in the Upper Peninsula.
FORECAST DISCUSSION
In terms of wildfire smoke, we have been fortunate so far in 2026. Unfortunately, our luck has run out as the fires north of the Minnesota arrowhead have rapidly expanded, overnight, and satellite imagery shows large areas of smoke headed our way.
Tuesday should stay hazy, but relatively smoke free, as the current thick smoke plume is skirting north of Lake Superior. Winds will shift and smoke will start pushing south. The Upper Peninsula will be impacted first, starting around midnight and pushing south in the northern Lower Peninsula overnight. Current models are showing that the dense smoke could reach the Michigan/Indiana border late in the day.
As such, we are calling a statewide Air Quality Alert for wildfire smoke for Wednesday. As this will likely linger through Thursday and perhaps longer, we will update this forecast Wednesday morning with the latest predictions.
EXTENDED FORECAST:
Air Quality is expected to stay in the USG range or higher. Forecasts will be updated frequently this week, to keep track of any unexpected changes.
Forecast updated by Jim Haywood: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Next forecast update: Wednesday, July 15, 2026