{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.288a3af0e10661c9d8ff36f3f1936d1d8601098a.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 19 at 9:01AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-19","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.288a3af0e10661c9d8ff36f3f1936d1d8601098a.001.1","accession_number":null,"cik":null,"ticker":null,"issuer_name":null,"edgar_url":null,"primary_entity_key":null,"primary_entity_name":"NWS Northern Indiana"},"word_count":288,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 19 at 9:01AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana\n\n**Severity:** Unknown\n**Certainty:** Unknown\n**Urgency:** Unknown\n**Areas:** Cass; St. Joseph; Branch; Hillsdale; Northern Berrien; Southern Berrien\n**Issued by:** NWS Northern Indiana\n**Sent:** 2026-07-19T09:01:00-04:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-19T09:01:00-04:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-21T00:15:00-04:00\n\n## Description\nThe Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy\n(EGLE) has declared an Air Quality Alert for Sunday and Monday,\nJuly 19 and 20, for elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) in\nparts of southwest Michigan. Pollutants within those areas are\nexpected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG, Orange\nAQI) range.\n\nThe Air Quality Alert is in effect for the following counties in\nsouthwest Michigan...\n\nBerrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Branch and Hillsdale.\n\nAnother smoke plume has settled over the region due to wildfires\nin Canada. It is expected that the increased pollution will continue\ninto Monday; however, levels will improve during the day as winds\nshift to a southerly direction. With smoke lingering across the\nstate, ozone also has the potential to increase quickly.\n\nIt is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor\nactivities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory\ndiseases like asthma. Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing,\ncoughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat,\nand eyes.\n\nReduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution,\nsuch as:\n* outdoor burning,\n* use of residential wood burning devices.\n\nTips for households: Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke\nfrom getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning\nwith MERV-13 or higher rated filters.\n\nFor up-to-date air quality data for Michigan visit the MiAir site:\nMichigan.gov/MiAir\n\nFor up-to-date air quality data nationally visit EPA's Air Now site:\nAirNow.gov\n\nFor further health information, please see MDHHS's Wildfire Smoke\nand You Health site:\nhttps://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-\nhealth/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke"}