{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.98039fb830ced712b8617c9a6795a1bf353c815a.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 3:41PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-17","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.98039fb830ced712b8617c9a6795a1bf353c815a.001.1","accession_number":null,"cik":null,"ticker":null,"issuer_name":null,"edgar_url":null,"primary_entity_key":null,"primary_entity_name":"NWS Caribou ME"},"word_count":285,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 3:41PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME\n\n**Severity:** Unknown\n**Certainty:** Unknown\n**Urgency:** Unknown\n**Areas:** Northwest Aroostook; Northeast Aroostook; Northern Somerset; Northern Piscataquis; Northern Penobscot; Southeast Aroostook; Central Piscataquis; Central Penobscot; Southern Penobscot; Interior Hancock; Central Washington; Coastal Hancock; Coastal Washington; Southern Piscataquis; Northern Washington\n**Issued by:** NWS Caribou ME\n**Sent:** 2026-07-17T15:41:00-04:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-17T15:41:00-04:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-19T00:00:00-04:00\n\n## Description\nThe Maine Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Air\nQuality has issued an Air Quality Alert for particle pollution from\n10 AM Saturday to midnight EDT Saturday night.\n\nParticle pollution levels are expected to rise into the Unhealthy for\nSensitive Groups range during the day on Saturday. Smoke from\nwildfires in western Ontario and Manitoba is expected to move back\ninto Maine during the day on Saturday. Moderate levels of ozone are\nalso expected for the Mid-Coast including the high elevations of\nAcadia National Park.\n\nThe Maine Department of Environmental Protection recommends that\nindividuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to\nreduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be\nespecially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants\ninclude the very young, older adults, those who work outdoors, those\nwith pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma, and those\nwith heart disease. It is okay to be active outdoors. But if you\nexperience symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, throat\nirritation or an uncomfortable sensation in your chest, please\nconsider limiting the intensity and duration of your outdoor\nactivities.\n\nA toll free air quality hotline has been established so Maine\nresidents can stay informed on the air quality situations. The toll\nfree number is: 1-800-223-1196.\n\nAdditionally the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has\nthe air quality forecast available on the web at\nwww.maine.gov/dep/air/aqforecast."}