OSHKOSH – EAA AirVenture opens July 20, but poor air quality from northern wildfire smoke has settled into the city.
As crews prepare for the event, some enthusiasts have been keeping an eye on the local air quality through the livestreams on eaa.org/airventure.
Dick Knapinski, EAA’s director of communications, said the smoke is treated as any other weather event, with pilots making safe decisions as they feel appropriate.
So far, pilots are on hold, waiting to get into the airport as everyone involved keeps checking on the forecast, but the big arrival days aren’t until this weekend.
Here’s what to know so far about air quality and weather as opening day nears.
Air quality could clear up as soon as Friday
A statewide air quality advisory is in place until noon July 17, though the National Weather Service warns it may extend the advisory for the eastern side of the state.
As of 11:30 a.m. Thursday, air quality in Oshkosh was in the maroon “Hazardous” category on the Air Quality Index, though the quality is clearer closer to Lake Winnebago, according to the PurpleAir map Winnebago County Health shared on its Facebook page.
At high levels like this, the general public is advised to avoid physical activity outdoors, while sensitive groups and people with asthma or heart disease should take extra precautions.
Winnebago County Health also shared a tip from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on protecting yourself with a mask or respirator outside to help filter the smoke. N95 or P100 respirators are the top recommendations, but cloth masks or scarves have little to no effect.
Even if the smoke lingers, EAA has spaces to take breaks in
Knapinski is hopeful the wind shifts as expected Friday and blows the smoke out, but attendees should take into consideration their individual circumstances in their AirVenture plans, as such a large outdoor event has its share of environmental hazards.
“Whether it’s smoke or rain or heat, we provide for as much as we can, but we also trust (attendees) to make their own good decisions,” he said.
If the smoke happens to linger or even come back, the museum and many of the exhibits are air conditioned with air filters.
Rain is possible early next week
In addition to air quality warnings, Winnebago County is under a Hazardous Weather Outlook from the NWS for possible storms Friday and Monday.
The chance of rain is 30% with a 20% chance of storms in the afternoon and a 30% chance of storms overnight. So far, Monday’s chance of precipitation is 60%.
When is EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 and how do you get tickets?
Slated for July 20-26, the 73rd edition of the world’s biggest fly-in convention will feature nine air shows over seven days, including night shows on July 22 and 25 exhibiting aerobatic champions and longtime Oshkosh favorites.
More details are available at https://www.eaa.org/airventure/eaa-airventure-tickets or call 800-564-6322.
Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Wildfire smoke worsens Oshkosh air quality before EAA AirVenture
Reporting by Daphne Lemke, Fond du Lac Reporter / Oshkosh Northwestern
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Daphne Lemke, Fond du Lac Reporter | USA TODAY Network
