This post contains outdated information.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has forecast an Air Quality Action Days thru this weekend, July 17 to July 20, 2026.
Indiana Department of Environmental Management news release:
IDEM Forecasts Air Quality Action Days Throughout This Weekend for Parts of Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana (July 16, 2026) – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecast an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for July 17, 2026 to July 20, 2026, throughout most of Indiana.
Note: Today’s forecast has been updated.
For Friday, July 17, 2026:
- Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) levels are now expected to be in the Very Unhealthy range (Purple); and
- Ozone levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) 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 (PM 2.5) levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) in the following areas:
- 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.
- 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.
For Saturday, July 18, 2026:
- Ozone levels are expected range from Good to Moderate throughout the state.
- Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) 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.
For Sunday, July 19 and Monday, July 20, 2026:
- Ozone levels are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range throughout the state.
- Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) 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 (PM 2.5) levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) in the following areas:
- 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.
- 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.
Heavy smoke is lingering for the Northern half of Indiana currently divided by a stationary front. The front will lift north later Friday providing a brief break in levels before a system late Saturday will bring another round of smoke. High pressure in place Sunday and Monday will recirculate the smoke over most of the state with the primary concern remaining the northern half of Indiana. This smoke, in addition to the other meteorological factors such as light winds and predicted flow from the north, will produce high PM2.5 readings.
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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