This story was updated at 10:30 a.m. Friday with the latest advisory from the Wisconsin DNR.
The air quality in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula is expected to improve throughout the day Friday as a southerly wind pushes it out of the region.
Unfortunately, it appears the clean air will be short lived.
The National Weather Service Green Bay says winds are expected to veer back to the northwest tonight behind a cold front allowing another push of smoke to filter over the area Saturday. It is uncertain how dense the smoke will be.
As of 8:00 a.m. Friday, the air quality is once again at very unhealthy to hazardous levels. At these levels people are encouraged to limit their time outdoors.
You can view current wildfire and smoke conditions across North America with the AirNow Fire and Smoke map.
The Wisconsin DNR’s current air quality advisory expires at noon Friday. It was extended until 6:00 p.m. for select counties including:
Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Calumet, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Iron, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Shawano, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago
The PM2.5 AQI is expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) to Unhealthy (Red) level.
The DNR says it remains unclear how Lake Superior will impact the clearing of smoke for near shore communities. Out of an abundance of caution, the advisory covers counties adjacent to Lake Superior, although only near shore portions of these counties may continue to see smoke impacts. It remains possible that near shore areas will clear out more quickly than this advisory suggests.
