The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has forecast an Air Quality Action Day for tomorrow, Friday, July 17, 2026 in our area.
Indiana Department of Environmental Management news release:
IDEM Forecasts Air Quality Action Day for Friday in Three Northern Indiana Regions
IDEM Forecasts Air Quality Action Day for Friday throughout most of IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana (July 16, 2026) – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecast an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for tomorrow, Friday, July 17, 2026 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.
For Friday, July 17, 2026 (tomorrow):
Fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy range (Red) 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.
Fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) in the following areas:
- Central/East Central Indiana, including the cities of: Bloomington, Brookville, Columbus, Frankfort, Indianapolis, Greensburg, Kokomo, Lebanon, Martinsville, Muncie, Richmond and all other cities within the area.
- Western/West Central Indiana, including the cities of: Crawfordsville, Covington, Delphi, Fowler, Greencastle, Lafayette, Newport, Monticello, Spencer, Sullivan, Terre Haute and all other cities within the area.
Heavy wildfire smoke is making its way into the state today, moving in behind a front from the north. This smoke, in addition to the other meteorological factors such as light winds and recent stagnant conditions, will produce high PM2.5 readings into the Very Unhealthy (purple) range for Northwest, North Central, and Northeast Indiana.
Smoke will linger in the region tomorrow despite evening rain chances, PM 2.5 readings are predicted to reach the Unhealthy (Red) range throughout northern Indiana and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups level (Orange) in Central and East Central Indiana.
For reporting purposes, this AQAD will be attributed to PM2.5.
IDEM forecasted Air Quality Action Days indicate anticipated higher levels of ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter only. Other factors may affect overall air quality.
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.
Air Quality Action Days are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. (24-hours) on the specified date. Some municipalities have additional open burning restrictions on AQADs. For more information, go to idem.IN.gov/openburning/laws-and-rules.
Note: IDEM forecasts are based, solely or in part, on data from air quality monitors located throughout the state. IDEM encourages residents of counties within or bordering the affected region(s) to heed the forecast. Air quality information for all Indiana counties can be found at SmogWatch.IN.gov.
About IDEM
IDEM (idem.IN.gov) implements federal and state regulations regarding the environment. Through compliance assistance, incentive programs and educational outreach, the agency encourages and aids businesses and citizens in protecting Hoosiers and our environment.
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