The 4Warn Weather Alert has been extended today as wildfire smoke continues to blanket Southeast Michigan, giving Metro Detroit the worst air quality in the world this morning. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has issued an Air Quality Alert for the entire state due to elevated levels of fine particulate pollution from Canadian wildfire smoke. The smoke has settled near the surface, creating unhealthy conditions for everyone, especially children, older adults, and people with heart disease or respiratory illnesses such as asthma. If possible, avoid strenuous outdoor activities today and limit the amount of time spent outside. Keep windows closed, run air conditioning on recirculate if available, and consider using an air purifier indoors. Those who must be outside for extended periods should take frequent breaks indoors.
In addition to the smoky skies, temperatures will climb to around 90 degrees this afternoon, making for a hot, hazy, and uncomfortable day across Metro Detroit. The wildfire smoke is expected to linger into Friday, which could result in continued air quality concerns. A couple spotty showers to our north can’t be ruled out Friday afternoon.
Attention then turns to the weekend as a cold front approaches the Great Lakes. Shower and thunderstorm chances increase Saturday afternoon and evening, and a few storms could become strong to severe. The Storm Prediction Center has placed Metro Detroit under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather, while communities closer to the Michigan-Ohio state line are under a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5). Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat, although locally heavy rainfall and frequent lightning are also possible. Behind the cold front, much more comfortable weather arrives. High temperatures will return to more typical late-summer levels, with highs in the 80s from Sunday into much of next week, accompanied by lower humidity and improved air quality once the smoke finally clears.