Plumes of smoke from the Canadian wildfires are hovering over portions of Michigan. Reading the EPA's Air Quality Index can help you plan your daily activity to ensure it's manageable for your health.

There has been a lot of talk about air quality levels as nearly the entire tri-state area has been engulfed by smoke coming down from wildfires in Canada. But what do all the numbers actually mean?

Canadian wildfire smoke is affecting air quality in parts of Michigan. The EPA's air quality index (AQI) uses a color-coded scale to inform the public about air quality and associated health risks.