Wildfire Smoke And Ozone May Degrade WI Air Quality Over Weekend

WISCONSIN — An air quality alert remains in effect across Wisconsin until Monday morning as smoke from wildfires in Canada continues to track into the state and threatens to cause unhealthy air.

The alert went into effect early Thursday morning as smoke was expected to move into the northwest part of the state before traveling south into the rest of the day, according to the National Weather Service.

The traveling smoke could make the air unhealthy for sensitive groups or even unhealthy for all. Officials encouraged people with heart of lung disease, older adults and children to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion while all others should consider reducing their prolonged or heavy exertion.

The highest likelihood of unhealthy air quality will come in western Wisconsin on Friday as high pressure moves over the state and limits mixing in the atmosphere, the NWS said.

Then over the weekend, ozone levels could further degrade air quality because of weather conditions alongside wildfire smoke. Ozone concentrations that are unhealthy for sensitive groups are expected inland of the lake breeze mainly on Saturday and Sunday while other areas within the lake breeze will have a better chance of reaching unhealthy ozone concentrations.

Ozone concentrations tend to be maximized during the afternoon and evening before a decrease overnight into the next morning, according to the NWS.

You can find more information about air quality across Wisconsin through the DNR's monitoring website: https://airquality.wi.gov.