Air quality advisory issued for Milwaukee, much of Wisconsin due to wildfire smoke
Hazy skies returned to Milwaukee and much of the rest of Wisconsin on Monday as northerly winds carried smoke from Canadian wildfires into the state again.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued an air quality advisory for sensitive groups in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Waukesha and the majority of other Wisconsin counties. The advisory is effective until noon Tuesday.
National Weather Service pathways student Nate Falkinham said residents of counties impacted by the air quality advisory can expect hazy skies throughout the day Monday, but most groups are safe to be outside and continue normal activities. However, it's recommended that sensitive groups, such as those with lung disease, take extra precautions.
How bad is the air quality in Milwaukee?
The air quality index, or AQI, in Milwaukee County on Monday morning was 97. AQI is a color-coded index that determines air quality based on six different pollutants.
On the colorimetric index:
Green (0-50) is good.
Yellow (51-100) is moderate.
Orange (101-150) is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Red (151-200) is unhealthy.
Purple (201-300) is very unhealthy.
Maroon (300+) is hazardous.
The current air quality advisory comes less than a month after Milwaukee saw an AQI of 274 on the evening of June 27. The same day, Milwaukee set a new record for AQI in Wisconsin. Previously, the highest daily average AQI in the state was 165. On June 27, Milwaukee's average AQI was 225. The air quality in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin during late June was among the worst in the world.
What other Wisconsin counties are under the air quality advisory as of July 24?
According to the DNR, the following Wisconsin counties are currently under the air quality advisory:
Adams
Ashland
Barron
Bayfield
Brown
Buffalo
Burnett
Calumet
Chippewa
Clark
Columbia
Dane
Dodge
Door
Douglas
Dunn
Eau Claire
Florence
Fond du Lac
Forest
Green
Green Lake
Iron
Jackson
Jefferson
Kenosha
Kewaunee
LaCrosse
Langlade
Lincoln
Manitowoc
Marathon
Menominee
Milwaukee
Monroe
Oconto
Oneida
Outagamie
Ozaukee
Pepin
Pierce
Polk
Portage
Price
Racine
Rock
Rusk
St. Croix
Sauk
Sawyer
Shawano
Sheboygan
Taylor
Trempealeau
Vilas
Walworth
Washburn
Washington
Waukesha
Waupaca
Waushara
Winnebago
How do I protect myself or my loved ones from poor air quality?
Wearing N95 masks, staying indoors as much as possible and turning on air conditioning are all recommended for protection.
Glory Dolphin Hammes, CEO of IQAir North America, also suggested having at least one room that is especially clean and virtually shut off from other rooms, with everything wiped down and minimal introduction of outside air.
Fine particulate matter, also known as PM2.5, is the primary pollutant causing wildfire-related air quality issues.
According to Anthony Gerber, professor of medicine and director of pulmonary research at National Jewish Health, these particles can cause lung inflammation. This inflammatory response can move through the body, causing strokes and heart attacks in some people. However, little risk is posed to people who are generally healthy and not members of sensitive groups.
It is recommended that people with respiratory illnesses such as lung disease, COPD or asthma monitor their symptoms, take extra precautions and contact a physician if necessary.
How can I track the air quality in Milwaukee?
To monitor the air quality in your area, you can type in your ZIP code into the AirNow.gov website.
You can also track air quality using the following maps of Milwaukee and the United States. The maps are updated every hour.
Journal Sentinel reporters Brittany Truong and Alex Groth contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee air quality: Wisconsin DNR issues warning for wildfire smoke
