{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.38ef5ad070d8cd1b3973b739eed44326961f4bfb.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 14 at 10:55AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-14","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.38ef5ad070d8cd1b3973b739eed44326961f4bfb.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":283,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 14 at 10:55AM 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:** 2026-07-14T10:55:00-04:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-14T10:55:00-04:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-15T12:00:00-04:00\n\n## Description\nThe Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy\n(EGLE) has declared an Air Quality Alert for Wednesday, July 15th,\nfor elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) due to wildfire smoke\nin parts of southern Lower Michigan. Pollutants within those areas\nare expected 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\nsouthern Lower Michigan...\n\nBerrien, Cass, St Joseph, Branch, and Hillsdale\n\nPlumes of smoke from Canadian wildfires are expected to move into\nthe region this week. The plumes will reach the upper peninsula this\nevening, sinking into the northern lower peninsula overnight. Models\nare showing the smoke plumes will reach the Michigan/ Indiana border\nWednesday evening.\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"}