Weather Alert in Michigan

Recent Locations: Almont, MI

Air Quality Alert issued May 30 at 3:16PM EDT by NWS Gaylord MI

AREAS AFFECTED: Emmet; Cheboygan; Presque Isle; Leelanau; Antrim; Otsego; Montmorency; Alpena; Benzie; Grand Traverse; Kalkaska; Crawford; Oscoda; Alcona; Manistee; Wexford; Missaukee; Roscommon; Ogemaw; Iosco; Gladwin; Arenac; Western Chippewa; Central Chippewa; Southeast Chippewa; Western Mackinac; Eastern Mackinac; Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island; Beaver Island and surrounding islands; Charlevoix

DESCRIPTION: The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory through tonight for elevated levels of fine particulates (PM2.5) due to smoke form Canada wildfires. Pollutants are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range. The alert is in effect for the following Michigan Counties, Roscommon, Charlevoix, Missaukee, Wexford, Beaver Island and surrounding islands, Manistee, Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island, Emmet, Iosco, Ogemaw, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Alcona, Eastern Mackinac, Western Mackinac, Montmorency, Otsego, Southeast Chippewa, Antrim, Central Chippewa, Leelanau, Arenac, Western Chippewa, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Alpena, Oscoda, Crawford, and Gladwin. It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases such as asthma. Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and eyes. Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices. Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters. For further information, please see EPA's Air Now site for up-to- date air quality data at https://www.airnow.gov For further health information, please see MDHHS' Wildfire Smoke and Your Health site at https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury- prev/environmental-health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke.

INSTRUCTION: N/A

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Weather Topic: What is Sleet?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Sleet

Sleet Next Topic: Snow

Sleet is a form of precipitation in which small ice pellets are the primary components. These ice pellets are smaller and more translucent than hailstones, and harder than graupel. Sleet is caused by specific atmospheric conditions and therefore typically doesn't last for extended periods of time.

The condition which leads to sleet formation requires a warmer body of air to be wedged in between two sub-freezing bodies of air. When snow falls through a warmer layer of air it melts, and as it falls through the next sub-freezing body of air it freezes again, forming ice pellets known as sleet. In some cases, water droplets don't have time to freeze before reaching the surface and the result is freezing rain.

Next Topic: Snow

Weather Topic: What are Stratocumulus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Stratocumulus Clouds

Next Topic: Stratus Clouds

Stratocumulus clouds are similar to altocumulus clouds in their fluffy appearance, but have a slightly darker shade due to their additional mass.

A good way to distinguish the two cloud types is to hold your hand out and measure the size of an individual cloud; if it is the size of your thumb it is generally an altocumulus cloud, if it is the size of your hand it is generally a stratocumulus cloud.

It is uncommon for stratocumulus clouds to produce precipitation, but if they do it is usually a light rain or snow.

Next Topic: Stratus Clouds