(UNDATED) – Please be careful if you are planning on being outside today for work or for fun.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy along with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management have declared Air Quality Alert Days in effect until midnight.

For Southern Michigan, that includes St. Joseph, Branch and Hillsdale Counties. For Northern Indiana, the counties included are LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Elkhart and DeKalb.

The National Weather Service along with the other organizations say the public should expect elevated levels of smoke today. Pollutants are expected to be in the unhealthy for sensitive groups range.

People and businesses are urged to avoid activities which lead to smoke and ozone formation. That includes refueling vehicles and using gasoline powered lawn equipment.

It is recommended that active children and adults, and individuals with respiratory diseases such as asthma, to please limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Levels for fine particles are expected to be in the Orange or unhealthy for sensitive groups range.