St. Cloud Under an Air Quality Alert

(KNSI) – A large swath of northern Minnesota is under an Air Quality Alert, including Stearns and Benton County, until 9 p.m. on Friday.

National Weather Service

The St. Cloud area’s Air Quality Index Reading is yellow or moderate. The designation means the air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those unusually sensitive to air pollution. This includes anyone suffering from lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults may experience health effects. Sensitive groups should limit prolonged or heavy exertion outside.

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the Orange AQI category, considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. This area includes St. Cloud, Alexandria, and the tribal nation of Mille Lacs. The Orange AQI reading means members of sensitive groups may experience health effects, but the general public is less likely to be affected.

Smoke from Candian wildfires is moving into Northwestern Minnesota and will move southeast across the alert area through Thursday. The intrusion will follow a cold front that may create at least some rain in central Minnesota.

Some smoke may stick around for the weekend, but it looks like it will be a quiet weekend with more airflow.

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