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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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People across all of Wisconsin and Michigan are urged to monitor themselves for coughs when spending time outdoors on Friday as smoke from Canadian wildfires worsens air quality across the region.
"There's definitely that smoke mixed in with everything," NWS meteorologist Eleanor Dhuyvetter, who works at the Gaylord, Michigan, office, told Newsweek.
Why It Matters
This is the first time excessive Canadian wildfire smoke had descended into the U.S. since 2023 when wildfires worsened air quality to dangerous levels for millions in the Northeast.
Read More on U.S.
In smaller amounts, smoke can cause hazy skies and create beautiful sunsets and sunrises. However, in higher amounts, the smoke can be dangerous, even prompting alerts urging people to stay inside until it clears.
What to Know
Environmental quality officials issued air quality alerts across the entirety of Michigan and Wisconsin on Friday morning. Most of the alerts will expire by Saturday morning.
Many of the alerts warned that people who are sensitive to poor air quality might exhibit physical symptoms after prolonged exposure to the smoke.
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"Sensitive groups: Make outdoor activities shorter and less intense. Its OK to be active outdoors but take more breaks. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath," an air quality alert for Wisconsin said. "People with asthma: Follow your asthma action plan and keep quick relief medicine handy. People with heart disease: Symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider."
Air quality alerts also have been issued for parts of Minnesota, where they will remain in place until Monday.
The smoke is pushing into the Great Lakes region ahead of a cold front. Once the cold front moves through, meteorologists anticipate clean air will follow.
Earlier this week, AccuWeather meteorologists said concentrations of smoke would reach the northern Plains—including North Dakota and Minnesota—before spreading southeast into Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan late this week, continuing into the weekend.
What People Are Saying
NWS meteorologist Eleanor Dhuyvetter, who works at the Gaylord, Michigan, office, told Newsweek: "We are really watching a frontal boundary push through Michigan throughout the day today. It's currently still up by Lake Superior, but we have some rain and clouds ahead of it precipitating out over a lot of northern Michigan and mixing down some of that smoke to the surface. The clouds do look a little bit off color. There's definitely that smoke mixed in with everything."
Clear air will follow the frontal boundary.
Dhuyvetter added: "If you're more sensitive to lower air quality, the suggestion is to stay indoors for the majority of the day today."
KSTP-TV meteorologist Jonathan Yuhas posted on X: "Multiple Wildfires in Manitoba Canada is producing a massive amount of smoke in the sky over the upper Midwest Today. Air Quality due to Smoke will be poor Today & Saturday over Minnesota & surrounding states - even visibility will be poor at times too."
What Happens Next
Air quality is expected to improve in Wisconsin and Michigan by early Saturday morning. Smoky skies might still be noticeable across Minnesota through the weekend.
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