{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.79f57eccdfe7ce4d877751f2a937766cb2cacb85.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 16 at 9:22AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-16","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.79f57eccdfe7ce4d877751f2a937766cb2cacb85.001.1","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":252,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 16 at 9:22AM 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:** 2026-07-16T09:22:00-04:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-16T09:22:00-04:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-17T12:00:00-04:00\n\n## Description\nThe Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy\n(EGLE) has declared an Air Quality Alert for Thursday and Friday,\nJuly 16 and 17, for elevated levels of fine particulate due to\nwildfire smoke. Pollutants within those areas are expected to range\nfrom Very Unhealthy to Hazardous.\n\nThe Air Quality Alert is in effect for the following counties in\nsouthwest Michigan...\n\nBerrien, Cass, St Joseph, Branch, and Hillsdale.\n\nPlumes of smoke from Canadian wildfires continue to drift across\nthe region. Elevated fine particulate due to the smoke will continue\nthrough Friday.\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"}