Wisconsin Air Quality May Reach Unhealthy Levels Before Thursday

WISCONSIN — Canadian wildfire smoke is expected to sweep across Wisconsin on Monday from north to south, degrading much of the state's air to unhealthy levels or worse into the week.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued an air quality alert on Monday morning amid the smoke lasting until Thursday at noon, the National Weather Service said. The eastern half of Wisconsin might see the heaviest impact between noon Tuesday and noon Wednesday, the NWS said. Wisconsin's air quality could also degrade into very healthy levels, and forecasters said they cant yet rule out the chances of hazardous air quality this week.

The situation with the smoke could remain dynamic over the coming days and messaging could change, forecasters said. For Monday, the heaviest smoke impacts could get up to unhealthy or very unhealthy. By 1:45 p.m., Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties had air that was unhealthy for sensitive groups. In Dane County, the air quality was slated as unhealthy.

Forecasters said people with lung or heart disease, older adults and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors while others should consider reducing their prolonged or heavy exertion amid poor air quality.

You can monitor air quality updates for Wisconsin in your region via the Department of Natural Resources online.

Amid the air quality concerns, the NWS forecast the chance of a thunderstorm Monday morning in parts of southeast Wisconsin.