Air Quality Alert

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released today, Wednesday, Jul 28

: AQIs this afternoon are in the Yellow (Moderate) category in most of the state due to particulate. AQIs are also Yellow due ozone around the Metro. A cold front will push southward into Minnesota this evening and tonight. Northerly winds behind the front will steer smoke from wildfires in Manitoba and Ontario into Minnesota. The smoke will arrive tonight in northern Minnesota and will spread across the rest of the state except the North Shore during Thursday morning. The smoke will linger over the area through Thursday night and into Friday. AQIs are forecast to reach Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) over much of the state. We will keep a close eye on area monitors in case AQIs rise beyond Orange. Conditions should gradually improve on Friday as high pressure over the area shifts to our east and winds increase out of the south and steer the smoke back north. The improved air quality may be temporary as another cold front will swing through on Saturday with more smoke possible behind that front.