(Image provided, Region News Team Meteorologist Matt Wintz)
Update — For today, Thursday, July 16, 2026 (updated): the Indiana Department of Environmental Management says fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Very Unhealthy range (Purple) in northwest Indiana. Officials say the air quality alert is due to heavy wildfire smoke making its way into the state today.
From the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM):
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has updated today’s Air Quality Action Day forecast and is forecasting an Air Quality Action Day for tomorrow throughout most of Indiana.
For today, Thursday, July 16, 2026 (updated):
Fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Very Unhealthy range (Purple) in the following areas:
• Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and all other cities within the area.
• North Central Indiana, including the cities of: Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Plymouth, Peru, South Bend, Warsaw, Winamac and all other cities within the area.
• Northeast Indiana, including the cities of: Angola, Auburn, Decatur, Fort Wayne, Hartford, Huntington City, LaGrange, Marion, Portland, Wabash and all other cities within the area.
In addition, ozone levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) for those areas.
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Hazy conditions in northwest Indiana – Region News Team meteorologist Matt Wintz says it’s due to wildfire smoke that’s all over the Great Lakes with some of the worst air quality in the world right now. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management says an Air Quality Action Day is in effect for Northwest, North Central, and Northeast Indiana today Thursday July 16 2026, with fine particulate matter levels expected to be in the Unhealthy range and ozone levels in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range. Air quality alerts were also issued across Michigan; the Mackinac Bridge was completely obscured by the wildfire smoke yesterday afternoon Wednesday July 15 2026.
IDEM said significant concentrations of wildfire smoke behind a front will move into the state from the north Thursday July 16 2026. “This smoke, in addition to the other meteorological factors, such as light winds and recent stagnant conditions, will produce PM2.5 readings into the Unhealthy range for Northwest, North Central, and Northeast Indiana. Ozone levels are expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range,” the air quality alert said.
IDEM said Hoosiers can visit SmogWatch.IN.gov to:
• View air quality information for all Indiana counties, including a state map of affected counties;
• Learn more about Air Quality Action Days and recommended actions;
• Learn more about ozone and fine particulate matter; and
• Sign up for air quality alerts.
