Air Quality Alert Starts Wednesday for Central, Southern Minnesota

(KNSI) – A cold front will bring cooler air into Minnesota on Thursday, keeping temperatures no higher than the mid-80s for several days, but it will also bring Canadian wildfire smoke down into central and south-central Minnesota.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for much of central and south-central Minnesota that goes into effect at 10 p.m. Wednesday and expires at 3 p.m. Friday.

Heavy smoke is expected to settle into the area around mid-morning Thursday. Some improvement in air quality will come Friday with projected southerly winds, with air quality levels below alert levels expected Friday afternoon across Minnesota.

The National Weather Service says the Air Quality Index is expected to be in the Orange category Thursday, which means the air’s fine particle level is unhealthy for people with lung or heart conditions, children and the elderly. They are advised to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outside.

The following counties are affected by the alert: Anoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Chisago, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Nicollet, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wright, Yellow Medicine.

___