Air & climate hazards
Daily air-quality readings, active-wildfire incidents, NWS heat advisories, and statewide weather warnings — the atmospheric-hazard view of Michigan today. Pulls live from EPA AirNow, NIFC, and the National Weather Service.
Michigan Air Quality Index (AQI) — Live City-by-City Readings
Source: AirNow (EPA · Open-Meteo) · live via /api/aqi
Live AQI readings for Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint, and 10+ Michigan cities. EPA color-coded health categories and outdoor activity guidance.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a 0–500 scale set by the EPA. 0–50 is Good (everyone is safe outdoors), 51–100 is Moderate (sensitive groups should consider limits), 101–150 is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (kids, seniors, asthma), 151+ is Unhealthy for everyone. Michigan AQI is usually Good or Moderate, but spikes during wildfire-smoke events and summer ozone days.
- AQI > 100: limit prolonged outdoor exertion if you have asthma, COPD, or heart disease.
- AQI > 150: keep windows closed, run AC, avoid outdoor exercise.
- AQI > 200: stay indoors, use an HVAC filter rated MERV 13+ or a HEPA purifier.
- Subscribe to EPA EnviroFlash for free email alerts: https://www.enviroflash.info/
Michigan Active Wildfires — Live NIFC Map
Source: National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) · Michigan DNR · live via /api/wildfires
Live map of active wildfires across Michigan from the National Interagency Fire Center. See fire size, containment, and DNR fire-danger by region.
Michigan averages 8,000 wildfires per year — most are small grass or debris-burn escapes, but the DNR tracks 9 regional fire-danger zones daily. Large wildfires in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula can produce smoke that drifts statewide and affects air quality.
- Check the DNR Fire Danger map before any outdoor burning: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr
- Get a burn permit (free) from your local DNR office if conditions allow.
- If you see smoke or flame, call 911 immediately — early reports save acres.
- If smoke drifts to your area, check the AQI panel and limit outdoor exertion when AQI > 100.
Michigan Heat Advisories — Excessive Heat Warnings & Cooling Centers
Source: National Weather Service (NWS) · MDHHS · Michigan 211 · live via /api/alerts
Live NWS heat advisories and excessive heat warnings for Michigan. Cooling center locations, heat-safety guidance, and at-risk groups.
NWS issues a Heat Advisory when the Heat Index (temperature + humidity) is forecast to reach 100°F+ for 2+ hours, or an Excessive Heat Warning at 105°F+. In Michigan these typically happen in July and August. Heat is the #1 weather-related killer in the U.S. — more than tornadoes, floods, or cold.
- Drink water before you're thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine on hot days.
- Never leave kids or pets in a parked car — interior temps hit 125°F+ within 10 minutes.
- Find a cooling center: dial 2-1-1 or visit https://www.mi211.org
- Check on elderly neighbors at least twice on hot days — heat stroke can develop within 30 minutes.
Michigan NWS Weather Alerts — Warnings, Watches & Advisories
Source: National Weather Service (NWS) · Detroit-Pontiac (DTX), Grand Rapids (GRR), Gaylord (APX), Marquette (MQT) · live via /api/alerts
Live National Weather Service warnings, watches, and advisories active in Michigan right now. Tornado, severe thunderstorm, winter storm, flood, and air-quality alerts.
The NWS issues three urgency levels: Advisory (inconvenient, e.g. dense fog), Watch (favorable conditions, take action soon), and Warning (event imminent or occurring, take protective action now). Michigan has four NWS forecast offices — DTX (Detroit/Pontiac), GRR (Grand Rapids), APX (Gaylord), MQT (Marquette) — each covering a slice of the state.
- Tornado Warning: go to lowest interior room, away from windows, kneel down and cover your head.
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning: get inside; lightning is the #1 killer in MI thunderstorms.
- Winter Storm Warning: avoid travel; if you must drive, keep blankets and food in the car.
- Get free phone alerts: enable Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) in Settings → Notifications.
Michigan Earthquakes — USGS Seismic Activity (Past 7 Days)
Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program · live via /api/quakes
All recorded earthquakes in and near Michigan over the past seven days from the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Magnitude, depth, and location for every quake.
Michigan sits on a relatively stable part of the North American plate, but small earthquakes (magnitude 1.5–3.5) happen regularly across the state and the surrounding Great Lakes region. Most are imperceptible; a magnitude 4+ quake might rattle windows. Damaging earthquakes (M5+) are rare but not impossible — the last was 1947.
- For any quake you feel, file a Did You Feel It? report at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/data/dyfi/
- If a strong quake hits: drop, cover, hold on. Stay away from windows.
- Check gas lines, water heaters, and chimneys after any quake M3 or higher in your area.
- Sign up for USGS Earthquake Notifications at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/ens/
Michigan Power Grid Status — DTE, Consumers, MISO Live
Source: MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) · DTE Energy · Consumers Energy · EIA · live via /api/grid
Live electricity demand and fuel mix on the Michigan grid via MISO. DTE Energy and Consumers Energy outage counts and grid load over time.
Michigan's electric grid is run by MISO across most of the state, with PJM serving a small slice. The two big retail utilities — DTE Energy (southeast MI) and Consumers Energy (mid- and west-MI) — buy power from the MISO market and deliver it to homes. Peak demand happens on hot summer afternoons (cooling load) and cold January mornings (heating + lighting).
- Report outages and track restoration: DTE 800-477-4747 · Consumers 800-477-5050.
- During a multi-hour outage, keep refrigerator/freezer closed (4 hr full / 48 hr full freezer holds safe temps).
- If you depend on medical equipment, register with your utility for priority restoration.
- On hot peak days, set thermostat to 78°F+ and run major appliances overnight to reduce grid stress.