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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Today looks to continue a trend of slow improvement in air quality, although some smoke from wildfires in Canada is expected to linger, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
EGLE on Sunday said it would maintain the lowest level of alert throughout the state today, while conditions might slowly get better.
Due to increased online traffic, MiAir air monitoring station measurements were unavailable to the public over the weekend. On Sunday, pollutant levels in the Upper Peninsula were unhealthy but below the hazardous levels experienced for days last week, EGLE said.
Today's expected level of alert in the region was USG, or unhealthy to sensitive groups.
"It is recommended to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory conditions like asthma," EGLE posted on its MiAir website. "Although fires continue to rage in Canada, models are leaning for the next few days to be more tolerable."
The improvement today was expected to come as winds shift to a southerly direction, the National Weather Service said.
Many outdoor activities continued as scheduled over the weekend, although the Downtown Iron Mountain Farmers & Artisans Market was canceled Saturday morning due to smoky conditions.
The local forecast calls for a chance of showers and possibly severe thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight. Today's predicted high is 84 degrees and the chance of precipitation is 40%.
No rain is in the forecast for Tuesday, as winds are expected to shift to the northwest with a high near 75.
Wildfires have been igniting across Canada and northern Minnesota this month, burning longer and faster because of hot weather and drought, scientists say. Many of the fires are burning in Canada's vast, remote boreal forests.
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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.