{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.eb1db5d93dfe7a19ca201a954aaf968bad3ea25c.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Air Quality Alert issued July 18 at 11:36AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-18","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.eb1db5d93dfe7a19ca201a954aaf968bad3ea25c.001.1","accession_number":null,"cik":null,"ticker":null,"issuer_name":null,"edgar_url":null,"primary_entity_key":null,"primary_entity_name":"NWS Gaylord MI"},"word_count":405,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Air Quality Alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 18 at 11:36AM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI\n\n**Severity:** Unknown\n**Certainty:** Unknown\n**Urgency:** Unknown\n**Areas:** Emmet; Cheboygan; Presque Isle; Leelanau; Antrim; Otsego; Montmorency; Alpena; Benzie; Grand Traverse; Kalkaska; Crawford; Oscoda; Alcona; Manistee; Wexford; Missaukee; Roscommon; Ogemaw; Iosco; Gladwin; Arenac; Western Chippewa; Central Chippewa; Southeast Chippewa; Western Mackinac; Eastern Mackinac; Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island; Beaver Island and surrounding islands; Charlevoix\n**Issued by:** NWS Gaylord MI\n**Sent:** 2026-07-18T11:36:00-04:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-18T11:36:00-04:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-19T15:30:00-04:00\n\n## Description\nThe Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy\n(EGLE) has issued an Air Quality Alert for July 18 and July 19, 2026,\nfor elevated levels of fine particulate due to wildfire smoke.\nConcentrations on Saturday will range from Unhealthy for Sensitive\nGroups (USG) in northern half of the lower peninsula to Unhealthy\nacross the upper peninsula. On Sunday concentrations will range from\nUSG across the lower peninsula to Unhealthy in the upper peninsula.\n\nSaturday, July 18, 2026, Air Quality Alert covers the upper\npeninsula, and the northern half of the lower peninsula.\n\nSunday, July 19, 2026, will be a Statewide Air Quality Alert.\n\nSmoke has improved across the southern portion of Michigan early\nSaturday; however, another plume is forecast to track through the\nstate Saturday, lasting into Sunday. The upper peninsula will be most\naffected by the smoke on Saturday with fine particulate levels\ndeteriorating from north to south through Saturday. Concentrations\nwill be high enough across northern areas to warrant an Air Quality\nAlert for Saturday, and by Sunday levels will be high enough to\nwarrant another statewide Alert. With smoke lingering across the\nstate, ozone also has the potential to increase quickly. It is\nrecommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor\nactivities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory\nconditions like asthma. Watch for symptoms including wheezing,\ncoughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat,\nand eyes. You can help reduce air pollution by limiting activities,\nsuch as:\n- outdoor burning;\n- use of residential wood burning devices.\n\nTips for households:\n- Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting\nindoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13\nor 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 EPAs Air Now site:\nAirNow.gov\n\nFor further health information, please see MDHHS Wildfire Smoke and Your Health\nsite:\n\nhttps://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/your-health-\nand-wildfire-smoke\n\nAir Quality Alert\nMichigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy\nJuly 18, 2026"}