Air & climate hazards
Daily air-quality readings, active-wildfire incidents, NWS heat advisories, and statewide weather warnings — the atmospheric-hazard view of {STATE.name} today. Pulls live from EPA AirNow, NIFC, and the National Weather Service.
Colorado Air Quality Index (AQI) — Live City-by-City Readings
Source: AirNow (EPA · Open-Meteo) · live via /api/aqi
Live AQI readings for Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint, and 10+ Colorado cities. EPA color-coded health categories and outdoor activity guidance.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a 0–500 scale set by the EPA. 0–50 is Good (everyone is safe outdoors), 51–100 is Moderate (sensitive groups should consider limits), 101–150 is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (kids, seniors, asthma), 151+ is Unhealthy for everyone. Colorado AQI is usually Good or Moderate, but spikes during wildfire-smoke events and summer ozone days.
- AQI > 100: limit prolonged outdoor exertion if you have asthma, COPD, or heart disease.
- AQI > 150: keep windows closed, run AC, avoid outdoor exercise.
- AQI > 200: stay indoors, use an HVAC filter rated MERV 13+ or a HEPA purifier.
- Subscribe to EPA EnviroFlash for free email alerts: https://www.enviroflash.info/
Colorado Active Wildfires — Live NIFC Map
Source: National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) · Colorado DNR · live via /api/wildfires
Live map of active wildfires across Colorado from the National Interagency Fire Center. See fire size, containment, and DNR fire-danger by region.
Colorado averages 8,000 wildfires per year — most are small grass or debris-burn escapes, but the DNR tracks 9 regional fire-danger zones daily. Large wildfires in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula can produce smoke that drifts statewide and affects air quality.
- Check the DNR Fire Danger map before any outdoor burning: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr
- Get a burn permit (free) from your local DNR office if conditions allow.
- If you see smoke or flame, call 911 immediately — early reports save acres.
- If smoke drifts to your area, check the AQI panel and limit outdoor exertion when AQI > 100.
Colorado Heat Advisories — Excessive Heat Warnings & Cooling Centers
Source: National Weather Service (NWS) · MDHHS · Colorado 211 · live via /api/alerts
Live NWS heat advisories and excessive heat warnings for Colorado. Cooling center locations, heat-safety guidance, and at-risk groups.
NWS issues a Heat Advisory when the Heat Index (temperature + humidity) is forecast to reach 100°F+ for 2+ hours, or an Excessive Heat Warning at 105°F+. In Colorado these typically happen in July and August. Heat is the #1 weather-related killer in the U.S. — more than tornadoes, floods, or cold.
- Drink water before you're thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine on hot days.
- Never leave kids or pets in a parked car — interior temps hit 125°F+ within 10 minutes.
- Find a cooling center: dial 2-1-1 or visit https://www.mi211.org
- Check on elderly neighbors at least twice on hot days — heat stroke can develop within 30 minutes.
Colorado NWS Weather Alerts — Warnings, Watches & Advisories
Source: National Weather Service (NWS) · Detroit-Pontiac (DTX), Grand Rapids (GRR), Gaylord (APX), Marquette (MQT) · live via /api/alerts
Live National Weather Service warnings, watches, and advisories active in Colorado right now. Tornado, severe thunderstorm, winter storm, flood, and air-quality alerts.
The NWS issues three urgency levels: Advisory (inconvenient, e.g. dense fog), Watch (favorable conditions, take action soon), and Warning (event imminent or occurring, take protective action now). Colorado has four NWS forecast offices — DTX (Detroit/Pontiac), GRR (Grand Rapids), APX (Gaylord), MQT (Marquette) — each covering a slice of the state.
- Tornado Warning: go to lowest interior room, away from windows, kneel down and cover your head.
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning: get inside; lightning is the #1 killer in MI thunderstorms.
- Winter Storm Warning: avoid travel; if you must drive, keep blankets and food in the car.
- Get free phone alerts: enable Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) in Settings → Notifications.