Wisconsin is in its fourth day of widespread hazardous air quality due to smoke from wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota.
At 7 a.m. Sunday, July 19, Milwaukee measured an Air Quality Index of 232, which is considered “very unhealthy.” That marks a drastic increase from just 24 hours ago when Milwaukee’s AQI was a “moderate” 55.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued an Air Quality Advisory statewide because the AQI Sunday is expected to reach the “Unhealthy” (Red) to “Very Unhealthy” (Purple) level. The DNR issued the alert Saturday and the advisory will last until Monday, July 20, at noon.
According to AirNow, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens should avoid physical activities outdoors. All other people should consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them, avoid strenuous outdoor activities and keep outdoor activities short.
“Take a lot of breaks,” National Weather Service meteorologist Benjamin Sheppard told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Temperatures Sunday will be in the 80s, due to a cool front with less humidity and no chance of rain, said Tim Halbach, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Milwaukee/Sullivan office.
Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin air quality returns to very unhealthy levels on July 19
Reporting by Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
