Wildfire Smoke from Canada Triggers Air Alerts in 4 US States

A thick blanket of smoke from Canadian wildfires is pushing southward across the US, prompting air quality alerts across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Connecticut. Millions of residents are advised to reduce outdoor exposure as air pollution levels reach unhealthy to very unhealthy levels, especially for sensitive groups.

Wisconsin: Smoke to linger until Thursday afternoon

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued an Air Quality Advisory for all of Wisconsin, effective until noon Thursday, July 31. PM2.5 levels are expected to reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (orange) to “Unhealthy” (red) category. Temporary spikes into the “Very Unhealthy” (purple) level are possible.

The advisory specifically lists the following counties under heightened alert:Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Lafayette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha.