Air Alert Issued For Minnesota Due to Wildfire Smoke

(KNSI) – Candian wildfire smoke once again prompts an air quality alert for a large swath of the state, including central Minnesota.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the alert is effective from midnight to 11:00 p.m. on Friday. The air in Benton, Sherburne and Stearns Counties is expected to be in the orange, or unhealthy for sensitive groups, on Thursday and move into the red category, or unhealthy for all, on Friday.

The general public and sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease, asthma, heart disease, and children and older adults, may experience shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing or other respiratory issues.

Cut back or eliminate outdoor activities and keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors.

Heavy ground-level smoke from wildfires in the Northwest Territories of Canada is moving south across central Canada and towards Minnesota on Wednesday. On Thursday, a strong cold front will bring this smoke across the entire state. Smoke will reach the border around midnight Thursday, the Twin Cities around noon, and southern Minnesota by 3:00 p.m.

Winds will become southerly Friday afternoon, and smoke will begin to be blown away from the state and disperse. Air quality should improve below alert levels by the end of the day on Friday.

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