Air quality alert issued for nearly entire state of Minnesota through Friday afternoon

KSTP
Hazy skies are seen in the Twin Cities on Tuesday night, July 20, 2021.[Wren Clair/KSTP]

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for nearly the entire state of Minnesota starting Wednesday night. The alert excludes the North Shore.

The alert takes effect at 10 p.m. and runs until Friday at 3 p.m. The affected area includes Detroit Lakes, International Falls, Duluth, St. Cloud, the Twin Cities, Marshall, Rochester and the tribal nations of Fond du Lac, Upper Sioux, Leech Lake, Red Lake, Mille Lacs and Prairie Island.

According to the MPCA, smoke from wildfires located north of the Canadian border in Ontario and Manitoba will be brought into Minnesota by northerly winds. Heavy smoke is expected to arrive around 10 p.m. Wednesday near the Canadian border and mid-morning Thursday in central and southern Minnesota. During this time, fine particle levels are expected to be in the Orange AQI category, a level that is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

People whose health is affected by unhealthy air quality include those who have asthma or other breathing conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; people who have heart disease or high blood pressure; children and other adults; and people of all ages who are doing extended or heavy, physical activity like playing sports or working outdoors.

For more information on the latest alert and tips from the MPCA, click here.