There has been some rain in the UP recently, but the forecast through July and into August is expected to have 40-60% less rain than normal, while rising temperatures will bring back very dry conditions across Luce, Mackinac, Alger, and Schoolcraft counties.
Our region has a history of wildfires, as some may remember the Sleeper Lake fire in 2007 and Duck Lake in 2012; between the two, more than 39,000 acres were burned north of Newberry. Currently north and east winds continue to carry smoke into the upperMidwest from wildfires in Canada, especially from Quebec and Ontario.
Poor air quality is hard on everyone, but brings greater risks to young children, persons with asthma and other lung conditions. Also, those age 65 and older are at greater risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular events when the air quality is poor.
LMAS District Health Department encourages everyone to keep an eye on the Air Quality Index at AirNow.gov or through local news sources and be prepared to take appropriate precautions. For those with central air and heat systems, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends installing air filters with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of at least 13.
Common home air filters have a MERV rating of 1-4 which trap only very large particles, but not smoke. For current information about wildfires and air quality, visit the following websites. Also stay tuned to local media for any immediate warnings in your area. Michigan.gov/michiganprepares/be-informed/wildfire FIRMS.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/usfs AirNow.go
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