Full Notification

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has declared an Air Quality Advisory until 6 AM EDT, for elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) across the state of Michigan. Pollutants within those areas are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG, Orange AQI) range. The Air Quality Advisory is in effect for the following counties in far southern Michigan... Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Branch and Hillsdale. A cold front moving down from Ontario will bring wildfire smoke plumes for fires in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan into the state. The smoke plumes and associated increased PM2.5 will sink across the state into Saturday morning. Increased vertical mixing associated with the boundary will likely bring smoke to the surface. As a result, we anticipate PM2.5 levels rising into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range across the state. There is a possibility that hourly levels could reach the Unhealthy (Red AQI) range for a short period of time. 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 further information, please see EPA's Air Now site for up-to- date air quality data: https://www.airnow.gov/ For further health information, please see MDHHS's Wildfire Smoke and You Health site: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental- health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke

* AFFECTED AREAS: CASS ... ST. JOSEPH ... BRANCH ... HILLSDALE ... NORTHERN BERRIEN ... SOUTHERN BERRIEN