Is wildfire smoke returning to Michigan? Why heat dome is to blame

A "heat dome" hovering over the western U.S. and upper Midwest has brought scorching temperatures and a heightened wildfire risk to the region — and while Michigan won't see a spike in temperatures because of it, wildfire smoke could drift over the Great Lakes once again. Michigan's air quality was considered acceptable for all groups as of 8 a.m. July 29, but the southeast Lower Peninsula — including Ann Arbor, Monroe and parts of metro Detroit — had moderate air with particulate matter readings or "PM2.5" ranging from 51 to 100 on AirNow's Air Quality Index . The National Weather Service in northern Indiana forecast for counties in southwest Michigan said smoke — this time from wildfires in the Pacific northwest region of the U.S. — could create hazy skies on Wednesday, July 29.

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