Wisconsin air quality alert extended; Racine among hardest hit by wildfire smoke

RACINE, Wis. (WRJN) – A statewide air quality advisory has been extended until noon Friday as hazardous smoke continues to blanket Wisconsin, including Racine and Kenosha counties.

As of Thursday morning, Racine recorded a PM2.5 air quality index of 621, firmly in the “hazardous” range, according to state officials. The fine particle pollution, driven by wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Ontario, has pushed conditions across much of Wisconsin into very unhealthy to hazardous levels.

Health officials urged everyone to remain indoors and avoid outdoor activity. Sensitive groups, including people with asthma or heart disease, are advised to follow care plans and monitor symptoms closely. Even healthy people are encouraged to limit exertion and keep indoor air as clean as possible.

Meteorologists said a shifting boundary between cleaner and smoke-filled air may bring temporary relief to parts of Wisconsin later Thursday. However, that boundary is expected to drift back overnight, keeping smoke in place through early Friday.

Improvement is anticipated later Friday as southerly winds increase ahead of an approaching weather system, potentially clearing smoke from west to east. Still, areas along Lake Michigan, including Racine and Kenosha, could see lingering impacts and may require an extended advisory.

Officials recommend monitoring updates through Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website as conditions change.