Wisconsin
Much of Wisconsin under air quality advisory from Canadian wildfires
About two thirds of Wisconsin is under an air quality advisory due to smoke from Canadian wildfires, according to the state’s Department of Natural Resources.
A map from the DNR shows much of central Wisconsin has air quality considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” including people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children.
Eau Claire and Marathon counties have air quality considered unhealthy for everyone, according to the map.
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The advisory is expected to expire at midnight.
This is the first air quality advisory of the season, and it comes about a week earlier than last year. In 2023, Canadian wildfire smoke spurred the most air quality advisories Wisconsin had seen in more than a decade.
DNR Air Management Program Outreach Coordinator Craig Czarnecki told WPR that before last year, it had been about a decade since the state issued an advisory regarding wildfire smoke during the spring.
“It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen impacts like this in the spring. That’s two springs here in a row,” Czarnecki said.
It remains too early to tell if we will again see intense episodes of orange skies and the persistent smell of smoke that blanketed much of the state last summer. The haze got so thick last June the state issued its first “very unhealthy” advisory.
“One thing we do know right now is much of Canada does remain in those drought conditions, including some areas of extreme drought which is where some of those fires are located up in British Columbia right now,” he said.
Canada had 145 active fires burning on Monday, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
“What happened is presumably the wildfires that were going on in Canada might not have been fully put out by their snowpack, and so they can reinvigorate in the springtime,” said Marcia Cronce, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Milwaukee.
“If you are able to view the sun, you’ll notice that it’s kind of a milky appearance in the sky in a little bit of filtered sunshine. It might appear a little bit more orange,” she said.
The DNR issues air advisories when levels of tiny particles or ozone in the lower atmosphere reach unhealthy levels.
Eau Claire has an Air Quality Index of 152, while Marathon is at 175, according to the DNR’s map. The higher that number, the more dangerous conditions are. The United States Environmental Protection Agency says an Air Quality Index of 101 to 150 can be unhealthy for those with some health conditions, while 151 to 200 is unhealthy for the general public.
“We have a little bit higher concentrations of particulate matter and that can irritate people that are susceptible to problems like asthma or heart or lung disease, older adults or children,” Cronce said. “So try to stay indoors if you fall into that category.”
Czarnecki said N95 masks can also help limit some of the impacts from wildfire smoke. The DNR has a website devoted to air quality resources.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
A chance for strong storms overnight on May 18 precedes a cooldown for the rest of the week. Here’s what you can expect.
Recovery efforts continue following EF3 tornado in Ringle, Wisconsin
An EF3 tornado that touched down in the Marathon County town of Ringle damaged or destroyed about 75 homes on April 17, 2026. Reporter Erik Pfantz shares these images as residents continue to clean up after the storm.
Central Wisconsin will see a small chance of storms overnight Monday, May 18, and cool temperatures for the rest of this week with rain likely again on Friday, May 22.
A complex of storms will move into the central Wisconsin area from the west near midnight on May 18, which could bring heavy downpours, gusty winds up to 40 mph, lightning and small hail, Scott Berschback, meteorologist with National Weather Service in Green Bay, told a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reporter.
There is a small potential for stray showers and storms in the afternoon on May 18 but nothing widespread, Berschback said. Due to the storms arriving later in the day, they are predicted to be weaker than some initial reports and a small threat for tornadoes drops to zero after midnight, he said.
Cool temperatures expected for the rest of the week
A cold front will swing through the area on Tuesday, May 19, bringing a round of some potentially strong showers and storms in the morning that are expected to wrap up by noon, Berschback said.
Temperatures will be warmer and humid on May 18 and 19 with highs in the mid-60s to 70s before a dry cooldown on Wednesday, May 20, which will see highs mostly in the 50s across the area and upper 50s and low- to mid-60s on Thursday, May 21, Berschback said.
May 22 will bring another chance for showers and thunderstorms later in the day and into the start of the weekend, Berschback said.
Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@usatodayco.com.
Manuel Franco claims his $768 million Powerball jackpot
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis was revealed Tuesday as the winner of the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 17, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 17 drawing
Midday: 7-2-6
Evening: 7-8-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 17 drawing
Midday: 8-9-1-9
Evening: 9-5-2-5
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from May 17 drawing
Midday: 01-03-05-07-10-12-13-18-19-21-22
Evening: 01-02-03-06-07-09-14-15-16-18-19
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from May 17 drawing
05-10-17-22-27
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from May 17 drawing
06-25-28-30-32-36, Doubler: N
Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
- Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
- Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
- Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.
Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?
No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.
When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
- Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **
WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Wisconsin
Fleeing Wisconsin driver gets airborne and jumps car over another car during high-speed chase
Footage from a high-speed chase in Wisconsin earlier this month shows the fleeing driver going airborne and jumping his car over another. We’re talking full ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ style.
It’s one of the most insane dashcam videos you’ll ever see. The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office released the now-viral footage of the arrest, which took place on Saturday morning, May 9.
A fleeing driver goes airborne and flies his car over another one during a high-speed police chase in Wisconsin. (Getty)
FOX 6 reports that the Wisconsin State Patrol stopped a car, then called for backup because of an active felony warrant. As a Fond du Lac County sheriff’s deputy and another trooper arrived, the driver took off.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
A high-speed pursuit began and eventually came to an end when the driver lost control, went into a ditch, then up the embankment. This is where the car flies over another car.
The fleeing driver’s car not only flew over the other car, it went all the way over the road and ended up in a field on the other side.
Remarkably, Dewayne Stokes, 44, identified by police as the driver, wasn’t ready to give up. He got out of the vehicle and had to be Tased before being taken into custody.
The pursuit had come to an end after four and a half miles, a tiny bit of which was covered through the air. Stokes was then taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
He was charged with seven counts, including first-degree reckless endangering safety and two counts of eluding an officer. His cash bond was set at $25,000, and he’s due back in court on June 24, according to court documents.
Stokes was out on bond at the time of his car flight for operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent, FOX 6 added. He had a warrant issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court. He didn’t know it at the time, how could he have, but that decision was going to put him on a path to fly a car over another car.
Everything happens for a reason.
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