DNR Says, Right Now, No WI Air Quality Issues, But...

A national model shows a forecast for air quality in SE Wisconsin in the unhealthy zone.

But we do not know from the Wisconsin DNR if air pollution conditions are building past "good" levels to "unhealthy"  - - in Milwaukee it is now 97 degrees, with a heat index of 102, because the DNR stopped issuing early warning, so-called "watches" last year.

From:

"Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources"

 

To:

As of March 15, 2011, the Wisconsin DNR will no longer issue Air Quality Watches for ozone and particle pollution due to limited staff resources and the potential increase in the number of air quality notices under proposed revisions to federal air standards.

In the past, an air quality watch was issued when conditions were favorable for pollutants to reach unhealthy levels.

Watches are also being eliminated due to their confusion with Air Quality Advisories which are issued when pollution concentrations actually reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups.

Air quality notices are issued as a public service by the DNR in partnership with the National Weather Service. They are not mandated by rule or law.

Here is a link to the DNR's real time posting:

  No Air Quality Notices

As of 12:49 pm CT Wednesday, July 4, 2012 there are no DNR Air Quality Notices for Wisconsin.