Air Quality Index Downgraded for Parts of Central Minnesota

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the air quality alert covering a large part of central Minnesota has been elevated to the red category.

Red means unhealthy for everyone, not just sensitive groups with cardiovascular or respiratory issues. The alert remains in effect until Thursday at 9:00 p.m. Most of the southern two-thirds of the state is still under the orange category, except for a slice from the Wisconsin border, bending around the Twin Cities and following along Highway 10 into the northern reaches of Benton and Stearns Counties.

Air quality is being diminished thanks to high levels of ozone near the ground. Ozone forms when nitrogen oxide and other compounds mix together. Those chemicals are most prevalent during hot, dry, sunny conditions like what we are currently seeing.

People are encouraged to stay inside. If you must be outdoors, avoid strenuous activities that last for a long time. Air pollution can lead to symptoms like chest pain, coughing, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

The pollutants are pulled in from the Chicago area and northeast Iowa. The arrowhead, northern Minnesota, and counties along the North Dakota border are being spared.

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