Detroit air quality map, timeline: Smoke to lessen tonight into weekend
Air quality improves little by little; possible storms tonight and Saturday
Alan Longstreet has the latest on the Air Quality Alert for Michigan as Canadian smoke from wildfires blanket the region.
FOX 2 - The Air Quality Alert remains in effect for Michigan on Friday for elevated levels of particulates from the Canadian wildfires.
Detroit air quality map
Big picture view:
An Air Quality Alert is in effect for our area as the Canadian wildfires continue. While conditions from the smoke remain awful, there is some relief in store, tonight.
The alert is scheduled to run until midnight. At that point, an extension may be ordered, but it will be a wait-and-see situation, Weather Authority Alan Longstreet said.
Detroit air quality ranking
By the numbers:
The Air Quality Index Rating for Detroit began this morning at 372 – the Hazardous range.
Detroit’s air ranked worst in the world on Thursday, scoring AQI numbers in the 500s most of the day.
READ MORE: Michigan air quality: Detroit ranks worst in world
The Air Quality Index score ratings are:
- 0-50 GOOD — Little to no risk
- 51-100 — MODERATE — A small number of unusually sensitive people may have health concerns
- 101-150 — UNHEALTHY FOR SOME — People with heart/lung disease, older adults and children should limit outdoor activities
- 151-200 — UNHEALTHY — Everyone should limit outdoor activities, unusually sensitive people should remain indoors.
- 201-300 — VERY UNHEALTHY — Everyone should remain indoors as much as possible.
- Any score beyond 301 is HAZARDOUS.
Air Quality conditions to slowly improve Friday
The Air Quality Alert remains in place, but it won't be quite as bad by Friday evening.
How long will the smoke last?
Timeline:
Conditions should improve dramatically tonight, with much cleaner air settling in by Saturday morning as southerly winds push the smoke plume north and west.
- At noon, the forecast is for ‘Very Unhealthy’ in the 201 to 300 range.
- At 5 p.m. the forecast is for 'Unhealthy' in the 150 to 200 range.
For the rest of the evening, metro Detroit will stay in that range with the number gradually lessening closer to the 150 mark.
Storm chances return today as well, although coverage stays isolated this evening.
A better opportunity arrives Saturday around midday, with scattered showers and storms moving in midday before tapering off around 5 p.m.
A few of those storms could produce stronger wind gusts, but only on an isolated to scattered basis.
Where are the wildfires in Canada?
Big picture view:
According to the Canadian government, more than 850 wildfires were active across Canada as of Thursday, with 29 new fires reported this week. Most of the fires designated as "out of control" were in western Ontario, north of Minnesota, and in northern Saskatchewan. But multiple active fires are reported in all provinces.
Winds are carrying the smoke southeast from Ontario down to Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Wisconsin and even parts of Maine.
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The Source: Information in this article was taken from FOX 2 meteorologists, IQAir and the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System.