{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.18d5e16927cc227f588784b982d51e234301cd08.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 16 at 11:50AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-16","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.18d5e16927cc227f588784b982d51e234301cd08.001.1","accession_number":null,"cik":null,"ticker":null,"issuer_name":null,"edgar_url":null,"primary_entity_key":null,"primary_entity_name":"NWS Gaylord MI"},"word_count":329,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 16 at 11:50AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI\n\n**Severity:** Unknown\n**Certainty:** Unknown\n**Urgency:** Unknown\n**Areas:** Emmet; Cheboygan; Presque Isle; Leelanau; Antrim; Otsego; Montmorency; Alpena; Benzie; Grand Traverse; Kalkaska; Crawford; Oscoda; Alcona; Manistee; Wexford; Missaukee; Roscommon; Ogemaw; Iosco; Gladwin; Arenac; Western Chippewa; Central Chippewa; Southeast Chippewa; Western Mackinac; Eastern Mackinac; Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island; Beaver Island and surrounding islands; Charlevoix\n**Issued by:** NWS Gaylord MI\n**Sent:** 2026-07-16T11:50:00-04:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-16T11:50:00-04:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-17T12:00:00-04:00\n\n## Description\nThe Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy\nhas issued an Air Quality Alert for today and Friday July 17, for\nelevated levels of fine particulates (PM2.5) due to wildfire smoke.\nPollutants will be in the Hazardous range.\n\nThe alert is in effect for all of northern Michigan. This includes\nthe following counties,\n\nRoscommon, Charlevoix, Missaukee, Wexford, Beaver Island and\nsurrounding islands, Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island, Manistee,\nEmmet, Iosco, Ogemaw, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Eastern Mackinac,\nAlcona, Western Mackinac, Montmorency, Southeast Chippewa, Otsego,\nCentral Chippewa, Antrim, Western Chippewa, Arenac, Leelanau,\nKalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Alpena, Oscoda, Crawford, and\nGladwin.\n\nIt is recommended that everyone should seek cleaner air indoors, and\nkeep activity levels low. While indoors, you can improve indoor air\nquality by: closing windows and minimize opening of doors; use HVAC\nsystems with MERV-13 filters or higher, or use portable air\ncleaners; and avoid activities that make indoor air quality worse,\nsuch as burning candles, using vacuums without a HEPA filter, using\ngas stoves, smoking, and spraying aerosol products.\n\nIf you must be outdoors for short periods of time, an N95 or P100\nrespirator marked with NIOSH is recommended. The respirator should\nfit tightly, collapse as you breathe in, and not let air in from the\nsides. Do not use masks for children under age 2.\n\nFor up-to-date air quality data for Michigan, visit the MiAir site:\nhttps://michigan.gov/MiAir\n\nFor up-to-date air quality data nationally, visit EPA's Air Now\nsite: https://www.airnow.gov\n\nFor further health information, please see MDHHS' Wildfire Smoke and\nYour Health site at https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-\nprev/environmental-health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke."}