Michigan’s air quality is feeling the impact of wildfires in northwest Ontario and northern Minnesota. On Wednesday, Visit Keweenaw launched a new tool to help residents and visitors in the Copper Country determine when air quality is too low for outdoor activities.
The Visit Keweenaw air quality webpage provides real-time air quality conditions and practical guidance for avoiding wildfire smoke. The new tool comes to the Copper Country following multiple years of wildfires in Ontario and the upper Midwest. Several factors, including the position of the jet stream, can impact where smoke travels.
The webpage features live AQI conditions, health guidance for different AQI categories, and answers to frequently asked questions. Brad Barnette, executive director of Visit Keweenaw, says people deserve reliable information when planning outdoor activities.
“The new webpage isn’t an alarm, but a tool for the community to use,” Barnette said. “When smoke does arrive, we want people to have one trusted place where they can quickly understand the conditions and make informed decisions.”
The air quality page is now live on the Visit Keweenaw website. Current conditions expect poor air quality for outdoor activity, with the AQI over 1,000 near Calumet Waterworks Park and much of the region indicating an AQI between 400 and 900.
If you must spend an extended period outdoors, consider using an N-95 mask to avoid breathing in ash particles. Check in on elders, children, and pets throughout the day. Find more details online.
