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News release

July 18, 2026

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MPCA communications, news.mpca@state.mn.us

Air quality alert issued due to wildfire smoke for Saturday, July 18, through Monday, July 20, for east central, southeast, south central, and northeast Minnesota

map of air quality alert issued for July 18, 2026

Air quality is expected to reach the red AQI category in east central, southeast, south central, and northeast Minnesota, which is unhealthy for everyone.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for east central, southeast, south central, and northeast Minnesota. The alert takes effect 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, and runs until 2 p.m. on Monday, July 20. The affected area includes Albert Lea, Rochester, Winona, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, and the Tribal Nations of Prairie Island, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac.

Heavy smoke from wildfires will persist across northeast Minnesota tonight into Sunday morning. Increasing southwesterly winds Sunday afternoon will lead to improved air quality for much of northeast Minnesota, though areas near the shores of Lake Superior and the wildfires themselves may continue to experience poor air quality through the afternoon. The alert for this part of the state is currently set to expire at 7 p.m. Sunday. Only localized poor air quality near the wildfires will continue thereafter. Heavy smoke is expected to then enter southeastern and far east central Minnesota from the east early Sunday morning and persist through Monday morning. Red, meaning unhealthy for everyone, is the expected AQI category for all of this alert. 

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, across east central, southeast, south central, and northeast Minnesota. This area includes Albert Lea, Rochester, Winona, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, and the Tribal Nations of Prairie Island, 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. 

Air alert wood smoke-red

What this alert means

Air moves long distances and carries pollutants. During air quality alerts due to wildfires, the air is mixed with harmful smoke. Wildfire smoke spreads or lingers depending on the size of the fires, the wind, and the weather.

The air quality index (AQI) is color-coded. Air quality alerts are issued when the AQI is forecast to reach an unhealthy level, which includes forecasts in the orange, red, purple, and maroon categories. For a full description of each air quality category, visit airnow.gov.

Red air quality: Unhealthy for everyone

Sights and smells: In areas where air quality is in the red AQI category due to wildfires, the sky may look smoky. The air will look hazy, and you won’t be able to see long distances. You may smell smoke.

Health effects: This air is unhealthy for everyone. Anyone may begin to experience symptoms such as irritated eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. Sensitive or more exposed individuals may experience more serious health effects, including worsening of existing heart or lung disease and respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, possibly leading to an asthma attack, heart attack, or stroke.

What to do: Reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks, and avoid intense activities to reduce exposure. Sensitive and more exposed individuals should avoid prolonged or vigorous activities and consider shortening, rescheduling, or moving outdoor events inside.

Who is most at risk

Poor air quality impacts health. Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can irritate eyes, nose, and throat, and cause coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fatigue. Smoke particles are small enough that they can be breathed deeply into lungs and enter the bloodstream. This can lead to illnesses such as bronchitis or aggravate existing chronic heart and lung diseases, triggering heart palpitations, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and strokes.

Certain groups experience health effects from unhealthy air quality sooner than others, either because they are more sensitive to fine particle pollution or because they are exposed to larger amounts of it.

Sensitive groups include:

  • People who have asthma or other breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • People who have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
  • Pregnant people.
  • Children and older adults.

People with increased exposure include:

  • People of all ages who do longer or more vigorous physical activity outdoors.
    • People who work outdoors, especially workers who do heavy manual labor.
    • People who exercise or play sports outdoors, including children.
  • People who don’t have air conditioning and need to keep windows open to stay cool.
  • People in housing not tight enough to keep unhealthy air out, or who do not have permanent shelter.

Anyone experiencing health effects related to poor air quality should contact their health care provider. Those with severe symptoms, chest pain, trouble breathing, or who fear they may be experiencing a heart attack or stroke should call 911 immediately.

Take precautions

Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible. Keep windows closed to ensure outside smoke does not enter your home.

Stay informed