If you take one glance outside, you’ll notice a dark-lit, orange haze painted across what’s meant to be idyllic, bright blue skies. The sun looks filtered. The air feels heavy. The landscape has taken on an eerie, otherworldly feeling—like a scene straight out of movie, where everyone should probably start asking where the nearest bunker is. 

Except, this isn’t a film set equipped with smoke machines or a green screen. 

It’s Michigan in July 2026. 

But this orange haze lingering over our skies isn’t the only thing stirring up concern. We’ve got extreme temperatures, poor air quality, and a fear of lettuce and strawberries. This month is shaping up to be anything but ordinary. 

Will Michiganders catch a break?

No, It’s Not a Filter

It’s almost as if someone slipped a camera lens over our eyes, placing an orange hue on everything we see. But it’s not a filter. While some might ask, “Where is all the smoke coming from?” It’s our neighbor, Canada. 

Our northern neighbor has since reported 3,500 wildfires in 2026, and 859 of those are considered active as of July 16th. These numbers seem high, yet they aren’t any worse than normal reports from years past. 

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There hasn’t been a single cause for these rampant wildfires, though some claim the culprits to be anything from human error and dry conditions to high temperatures and even lightning strikes. 

And if you remember from last summer, we struggled to see the sun through a smokey, grey haze due to wildfires stemming from none other than Canada. 

This summer, we’re not only accustomed to checking the UV index to ask, “Should I bring sunscreen to the beach,” we’re checking the air quality asking, “Should I even be outside?” 

Bring the Heat

As if the smokey orange skies weren’t enough, Michigan was hit with intense temperatures the last few weeks. From roughly July 9 to July 15, Michigan experienced a historic (and prolonged) heat wave that maintained temperatures surpassing 100°F. In Grand Rapids and Holland, we saw consistent daytime highs in the 90s, and evening temperatures still lingered in the 80s. These temperatures marked some of the hottest the state has seen since 2012. 

It’s made daily activities more like a chore than a chance to relax. You might just want to forget waiting until the evening hours to get your 10,000 steps in because even then the temperatures will be well into the 80s. It even makes going out to relax in the sun unbearable; the heat index will get to you quicker than the ultraviolet rays. 

But not only that, couple these high temperatures with a layer of smoke and you have the perfect recipe for poor air quality. The normal range for air quality ranges between 20 to 50 AQI for the broader Grand Rapids and Holland areas, but the past few days we’ve seen levels over 500, making our cities and other parts of Michigan unbearable to breathe in. 

The Lettuce Situation Nobody Asked For

Then came another unexpected problem: the fear of lettuce (or any other vegetable or fruit for that matter). And I’m not referring to the fear of going on a diet or eating sustainable, wholesome foods, either. The fear that has become associated with these fresh-grown foods is because of one thing: cyclosporiasis. 

So what exactly is cyclosporiasis? It’s an illness caused by a parasite that has been linked to contaminated food and can cause a multitude of symptoms from prolonged diarrhea and stomach cramps to nausea and fatigue. 

A few reported cases sprang up in the last few weeks, where people complained about constant trips to the bathroom, and others noted they even lost a few pounds because of it (and no, this is not the new “quick-way-to-lose-weight scheme”). 

But if you are looking for a reason to reach for the processed cookies over the bag of lettuce, this might be the best time to use that excuse. Be sure to check your produce, give it a nice bath, and stay up to date with public health updates to ensure that your food isn’t hiding a sneaky little parasite. 

Because honestly, nothing ruins a summer barbecue faster than realizing that your crazy aunt’s potato salad (with a recipe she refuses to share) wasn’t the problem—it was the innocent-looking lettuce. 

A July We Won’t Forget

So, between the hazy orange skies, extreme temperatures, and a sneaky little parasite, this July has felt like it has picked up every possible inconvenience all at once. But if there is one thing we Michiganders are known for, it’s the ability to adapt. 

We endure the harsh winters. We complain about the potholes. We argue about whether or not Ohio is actually that bad. And now, apparently, we have to add checking the air quality and questioning our salad to the list.