Air Quality Alert Issued for St. Cloud Through Friday Morning Due to Wildfire Smoke

(KNSI) – Wildfires burning across the northern part of the state have prompted the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to issue an air quality alert for unsafe air across much of the region, in effect from now until 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 17th.

Forecasters say hot temperatures combined with air pollution will exacerbate health impacts.

According to officials, heavy smoke is expected across the Arrowhead on Tuesday, as large wildfires continue to spread. A frontal boundary will then spread smoke farther south Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, as it moves across northern and central Minnesota. The onset of smoke is expected to be rapid. Additional rounds of heavy smoke are possible from Thursday through Friday morning across the alert area.

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the maroon air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered hazardous for everyone, across northeast Minnesota. Those levels are expected to reach the red category, a step lower but still considered unhealthy for everyone, across central Minnesota, including St. Cloud, and continuing into the Twin Cities and Winona.

In the red category, everyone should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.

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