Air quality alert in effect through Monday evening due to smoke from Canadian wildfires
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says an air quality alert is in effect for the whole state through Monday evening due to wildfire smoke drifting south from Canada.
Northwestern winds will carry smoke from Manitoba and Saskatchewan over the next few days, with the worst concentration expected on Saturday. While the smoke will subside at times, the MPCA cautions that several waves are expected.
Residents in northern Minnesota will be impacted the most, and everyone is advised to limit outdoor activity. For central and southern Minnesota, limited exposure is recommended for people in sensitive groups, including those experiencing heart and lung conditions, pregnant people, children and seniors.
“As a parent, I kind of have to keep an eye out for: he’s coughing, he’s not running as fast as he normally does, maybe he’s kind of rubbing his eyes a little bit. Those are signs, to me that maybe he needs to take a break and a breather on the sidelines,” Dr. Andrew Stiehm, a pulmonary physician with Allina Health, said of his teen who has a soccer match this weekend.
“I’m really worried in particular about those who are susceptible, and those who are going to be doing outdoor sports this weekend,” Dr. Stiehm said. “[Things like] spending an hour running on a soccer pitch or spending some time on the baseball diamond, running, deep breathing, those are the people that you really want to keep an eye on this weekend.”
Check the MPCA’s website to see the air quality index in your area.