
Air quality is expected to reach the red AQI category in northern and central Minnesota, which is unhealthy for everyone
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has expanded the air quality alert to include southeast Minnesota. The alert runs until 11 p.m. on Friday, July 25. The affected area includes the Twin Cities metro area, Brainerd, Alexandria, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Ortonville, Mankato, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Upper Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake, White Earth, Red Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac.
A band of heavy smoke from wildfires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba is moving south across central and northern Minnesota on Thursday. Smoke will reach southern Minnesota Thursday afternoon. Thursday's smoke model forecasts suggest smoke is likely to reach southeast Minnesota by Thursday evening. Therefore, the alert has been expanded to cover southeast Minnesota. Smoke will linger across the state until Friday afternoon, and then southerly winds are expected to push the smoke back to the north. Air quality should improve gradually from south to north beginning Friday afternoon, with improvement in fine particle levels below the alert threshold expected by the end of Friday.
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, across northern and central Minnesota. This area includes Brainerd, Alexandria, Hinckley, Ortonville, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, White Earth, Red Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac. In the red area, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and limit time spent outdoors. Everyone should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the orange AQI category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across southern Minnesota. This area includes the Twin Cities metro area, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, St. Cloud, Mankato, and the Tribal Nations of Upper Sioux and Prairie Island. In the orange area, sensitive groups should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.