Millions Warned to Stay Inside, Close Windows in Michigan

Millions of residents across parts of Michigan—including Detroit and Windsor—have been warned to stay indoors, as a pocket of fine particle pollution (PM2.5) has reached “unhealthy” levels, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) AirNow map. 

The National Weather Service has also issued an air quality advisory—in effect until Monday, February 16—for parts of southwest Michigan, including St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe counties, warning that elevated levels of PM2.5 are making the air quality “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” 

Both the NWS and EPA have advised those in affected areas to “avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma,” and the NWS has urged residents to “keep windows closed overnight.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.