FORECAST SUMMARY: Tuesday, August 1, 2023, through Wednesday, August 2, 2023

OZONE:  8-hour average ozone concentrations are expected to be a mix of Good and Moderate.

PM-2.5:  24-hour average Fine Particulate concentrations are also expected to be Good increasing to Moderate.

FORECAST DISCUSSION: It you looked outside, this morning, you probably thought that we were under overcast skies.  Unfortunately, what you were seeing was an extremely thick layer of Canadian wildfire smoke around the 10,000-foot level.  The thickness of that smoke is enough to considerable dim the sun.  Unlike last week, that smoke is staying mostly aloft and not expected to significantly affect surface concentrations.  That said, the models do show a bit mixing down, mostly in the northern portion of the state.  But none of those models are showing concentrations increasing in excess of the USG threshold.  As such, I will be keeping the forecasted AQI in the Moderate range for today and tomorrow.

As that smoke clears out, late Wednesday, we turn our attention back to ozone.  Current projections have the ozone production increasing but are keeping it out over the lake and closer to the Wisconsin border.  As such, I do not see the need for any advisories, but I will definitely keep an eye on it in case it shifts further east than expected.  Therefore, I will be updating this forecast on Wednesday to provide the latest projections.

EXTENDED FORECAST: Air Quality should be generally Moderate for most of the middle of the week with some slight potential for elevated pollutant levels.

Air Quality should be generally Moderate for most of the middle of the week with some potential for elevated pollutant levels.

Forecast updated by Jim Haywood: Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Next forecast update Wednesday, August 2, 2023