{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.cf9493a313cd350614632d6f230ba9b7c9034a53.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 15 at 10:02AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-15","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.cf9493a313cd350614632d6f230ba9b7c9034a53.001.1","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":277,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 15 at 10:02AM 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:** 2026-07-15T10:02:00-04:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-15T10:02:00-04:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-16T12:00:00-04:00\n\n## Description\nThe Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy\n(EGLE) has declared an Air Quality Alert for today, July 15th and\ntomorrow, Thursday, July 16th, for elevated levels of fine\nparticulate (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke in parts of southern Lower\nMichigan. Pollutants within those areas are expected to be in the\nUnhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG, Orange AQI) 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\nPlumes of smoke from Canadian wildfires will continue moving into the\nregion this week. The plumes Wednesday morning have reached the upper\npeninsula, and the plumes will continue sinking south, reaching the\nMichigan/Indiana border Wednesday 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"}