Canadian Wildfire Smoke Expected to Degrade Minnesota Air Quality

(KNSI) — Residents across Minnesota can expect good air quality today, but that’s about to change as smoke from Canadian wildfires begins moving into the state, potentially triggering air quality alerts for an extended period.

The first wave will arrive today in northeastern Minnesota, settling in around an area of high pressure and may linger in the Arrowhead and near the shores of Lake Superior through tonight and into Friday morning.

Friday will bring a second, more widespread round of heavy smoke as it rides a cold front that moves south, pulling the smoky air along with it. This will likely result in elevated concentrations of fine particle pollution. Forecasters also warn that ground-level ozone concentrations could develop beginning Friday due to increasing temperatures, with most areas potentially reaching the moderate, or yellow, Air Quality Index category.

The threat of decreased air quality won’t end with the weekend. Meteorologists say winds coming out of the northwest will continue creating opportunities for additional heavy wildfire smoke to impact Minnesota into next week, though exact timing and affected locations remain uncertain.

Air quality alerts are possible with each round of smoke that moves through the region.

___