Wildfire Smoke in Wisconsin Lingers Longer Than Before

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WGBW) – Air Quality Alerts started a week ago and kept getting extended as smoke continued to stick over the state, creating a haze that is a cause for health concerns.

It all started on Tuesday, July 29. After a week of high heat and humidity prompting Heat Advisories and Warnings, we were looking forward to the relief in temperatures. But with that, came the wildfire smoke from Canada.

The high pressure was parked north and, as it moved directly over the Midwest, it took the smoke with it. These pressure systems bring calm conditions, light winds and sunny skies. Instead, we’ve been stuck in a haze. That’s because it takes the air above and sinks it to the ground. Now, some are feeling health issues and side effects from breathing in the polluted air.

Looking back at 2023, Air Quality Alerts expired after a maximum of two days – it never lasted any longer. For example, June 27 to June 29 the alert was in effect for two consecutive days. Then it happened again July 14 to July 16.

In this current stretch, we’re in the seventh inning of a non-scoring baseball game – the part of the game that drags. As of August 5, it’s been an entire week, going on seven days of unhealthy air quality. In some places, the alert expired on Saturday, August 2, but it still marks a record of four days in a row.

The high-pressure system and thickest smoke is now slowly sliding to the east, hugging the Great Lakes and devouring New York. Meanwhile, a low-pressure system is building to the west and headed our way. This will kick the winds up and shift the airmass away on Wednesday, August 6, bringing much needed relief from the thick smoke.