What WI Residents Need To Know About This Week's Air Quality Alert

Wildfire smoke is pushing Wisconsin's air quality into unhealthy territory. Here's who's at risk and how to stay safe.

By William Bornhoft, Patch Staff

Jul 15, 2026 9:54 am CDT

Toni Kreutzer, left, and Travis Rogne, right, take a break from the heat and sit on a bench along the shores of Lake Mendota in Madison, Wis., on Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)

MILWAUKEE, WI — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued a statewide Air Quality Advisory, including Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Washington and Waukesha counties, as wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Ontario moves into the state. Here's what that means for the Milwaukee area this week.

What's happening

Smoke from large wildfires burning in Minnesota and Ontario began moving into northern Wisconsin Tuesday night and is pushing south. The DNR says the smoke was expected to reach an Eau Claire to Sheboygan line by midday Wednesday, then continue toward a La Crosse to Janesville line by Wednesday night, with impacts possible statewide by early Thursday. Lake enhanced smoke concentrations are also possible for communities near Lake Michigan, which includes the Milwaukee area.

How bad is it

The DNR says the 24-hour PM2.5 Air Quality Index is expected to reach the orange, or unhealthy for sensitive groups, to purple, or very unhealthy, range, with hazardous, or maroon, readings possible on an hour-by-hour basis. The advisory runs from midday Tuesday through midday Thursday, and the DNR says it will be reevaluated Thursday morning and will likely be extended for at least part of the state.

Who's most at risk

People with asthma or heart disease, along with other sensitive groups, are advised to avoid outdoor physical activity if the AQI reaches the purple, very unhealthy level, and to reschedule or move activities indoors if it hits red, or unhealthy.

Everyone else is advised to limit outdoor physical activity during purple conditions and keep outdoor activities shorter and less intense during red conditions.

What you can do

The DNR recommends people with asthma follow their asthma action plan and keep quick relief medicine handy, and says people with heart disease experiencing palpitations, shortness of breath or unusual fatigue should contact their health care provider. Everyone is advised to go indoors if symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath develop, regardless of underlying health conditions.

When it might improve

The current advisory runs through midday Thursday, though the DNR expects it will be extended for at least part of Wisconsin beyond that. Updated air quality information is available at airquality.wi.gov.