Air Quality Watches & Advisories

Information current as of 6:06 pm Tuesday, February 9, 2010.   

What is a Watch?

An Air Quality Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for air pollutants to reach unhealthy levels based on the Air Quality Index.


What is an Advisory?

An Air Quality Advisory is issued when air pollutants have reached unhealthy levels based on the Air Quality Index.


Learn more about EPA's Air Quality Index
Click image to learn
more about the AQI


Current Alerts

    There are no air quality watches or advisories in effect.


The Department of Natural Resources uses weather forecasts and data from air monitoring sites to determine air quality in the state and notifies residents when pollutants reach unhealthy levels based on the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI includes two pollutants that can cause health problems in humans -- ozone and particle pollution.

To protect public health, the DNR may issue an advisory even though pollutant levels at some locations have not yet reached unhealthy levels. Forecasters evaluate weather conditions and typically issue an advisory when pollutant levels are rising and at least one monitor has exceeded the standard.

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Notice: Due to agency-wide furloughs, DNR offices will be closed and no air quality forecasts or notices about watches or advisories will be issued on the following days during 2010: 2/15; 5/28; 10/11; 11/26; and 12/27. Current air quality information will continue to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the Daily Air Quality Hotline (1-866-DAILY AIR) and DNR's Real-time Air Monitoring web site. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Current Air Quality

  • Today's Air Quality - Real-time monitoring of air quality around Wisconsin
  • Daily Air Quality Hotline - 1-866-324-5924 (1-866-DAILY AIR)
  • Visibility Monitoring Camera at Milwaukee, Wisconsin [exit DNR]
  • EPA AirNow [exit DNR] - nationwide air quality forecasts

For More Information Including How You Can Help:


Air Quality and Health
Last Revised: Thursday, February 04, 2010