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IDEM issues Air Quality Action Day Warning for Marshall County Thursday

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 9:00 PM

By Kathy Bottorff

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for Thursday, July 16th, covering the North Central Indiana region, including Marshall County and communities such as Plymouth, South Bend, Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Peru, Warsaw, and Winamac.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels are expected to reach the Unhealthy (Red) range, while ozone levels are forecast to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) range throughout the day. The Action Day is in effect for the full 24-hour period, from midnight to 11:59 p.m.

Significant concentrations of wildfire smoke currently sitting behind a weather front are expected to move into Indiana from the north on Thursday. Combined with light winds and recent stagnant atmospheric conditions, the smoke is forecast to drive PM2.5 readings into the Unhealthy range for Northwest, North Central, and Northeast Indiana.

Sensitive groups — including children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or heart conditions — are especially encouraged to limit time outdoors and reduce physical activity outside on Thursday. All residents in the affected region are advised to monitor air quality throughout the day.