{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.172bfd5703879d3691c5d719d3bb0ce6a2bd64bb.002.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 18 at 12:11PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-18","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.172bfd5703879d3691c5d719d3bb0ce6a2bd64bb.002.1","accession_number":null,"cik":null,"ticker":null,"issuer_name":null,"edgar_url":null,"primary_entity_key":null,"primary_entity_name":"NWS Grand Rapids MI"},"word_count":377,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 18 at 12:11PM EDT by NWS Grand Rapids MI\n\n**Severity:** Unknown\n**Certainty:** Unknown\n**Urgency:** Unknown\n**Areas:** Muskegon; Ottawa; Kent; Ionia; Clinton; Allegan; Barry; Eaton; Ingham; Van Buren; Kalamazoo; Calhoun; Jackson\n**Issued by:** NWS Grand Rapids MI\n**Sent:** 2026-07-18T12:11:00-04:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-18T12:11:00-04:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-20T00:00:00-04:00\n\n## Description\nThe Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has issued\nan Air Quality Alert for July 18 and for July 19, 2026, for elevated\nlevels of fine particulate due to wildfire smoke. Concentrations on\nSaturday will range from Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) in\nnorthern half of the lower peninsula to Unhealthy across the upper\npeninsula. On Sunday concentrations will range from USG across the\nlower peninsula to Unhealthy in the upper peninsula.\n\nSaturday, July 18, 2026, Air Quality Alert covers the upper peninsula, and the\nnorthern half of the lower peninsula\n\nSunday, July 19, 2026, will be a Statewide Air Quality Alert\n\nSmoke has improved across the southern portion of Michigan early Saturday; however,\nanother plume is forecast to track through the state Saturday, lasting into Sunday. The\nupper peninsula will be most affected by the smoke on Saturday with fine particulate\nlevels deteriorating from north to south through Saturday. Concentrations will be high\nenough across northern areas to warrant an Air Quality Alert for Saturday, and by\nSunday levels will be high enough to warrant another statewide Alert. With smoke\nlingering across the state, ozone also has the potential to increase\nquickly.\n\nIt is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities,\nespecially those with heart disease and respiratory conditions like asthma. Watch for\nsymptoms including wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose,\nthroat, and eyes. You can help reduce air pollution by limiting\nactivities, such as:\n- outdoor burning;\n- use of residential wood burning devices. Tips\nfor households:\n- Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting\nindoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with\nMERV-13 or higher rated filters. For up-to-date air quality data\nfor Michigan visit the MiAir site:Michigan.gov/MiAir\n\nFor up-to-date air quality data nationally visit EPAs Air Now site:\nAirNow.gov\n\nFor further health information, please see MDHHS Wildfire Smoke and Your Health\nsite:\nhttps://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-\nhealth/your-health- and-wildfire-smoke Air Quality Alert Michigan\n\nDepartment of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy\n\nMuskegon...Ottawa...Kent...Ionia...Clinton...Allegan...Barry...Eaton...\nIngham...Van Buren...Kalamazoo...Calhoun...Jackson."}