Air quality alert issued as heat wave continues in Minnesota
Updated: 7:45 p.m. | Posted: 6:40 a.m.
An air quality alert has been issued for much of central and southern Minnesota for Monday, as the Memorial Day weekend heat wave continues across the state.
"Air quality is expected to worsen Monday to unhealthy levels," the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency reported. "Sunny skies, hot temperatures and light winds will combine to cause an increase in ground-level ozone."
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The air quality alert is in effect from noon to 8 p.m. Monday for the Twin Cities metro area, as well as St. Cloud, Mankato, Rochester, and Albert Lea. The MPCA reported that there should be some improvement Monday evening as rain is expected to develop in southern Minnesota, and as the sun lowers in the sky.
High ozone levels can aggravate lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema and COPD, the MPCA said. All people should take precautions, such as limiting extended, heavy physical activity.
Temperatures reached the upper 80s and 90s across much of Minnesota on Sunday, with a few readings in the triple-digits. The Duluth airport set a record high of 88 degrees, beating the previous record of 86, set in 1969. (It was much cooler near Lake Superior, with temperatures in the 50s at the Duluth harbor.)
La Crosse, Wis., reached a record high of 98 degrees (old record 96, set in 1874). Sioux Falls, S.D., set a record with a high of 95 (old record 92, set three times). Rochester, Minn., tied a record with a high of 93.
Worthington, Minn., hit 100 degrees on Sunday; Madison, Minn., reached 102, according to the Weather Service.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport reached a high of 90 degrees, short of the daily record of 95.
Another hot day is expected for Monday. A heat advisory remains in effect through early Monday afternoon for the Twin Cities metro area, with an excessive heat watch kicking in for Monday afternoon and evening.
"Temperatures will only cool into the low to mid 70s tonight, especially downtown, so the heat advisory has been extended through the night," the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities reported Sunday afternoon. "Highs Monday will likely reach the upper 90s. The humidity will also be higher than (Sunday), resulting in peak heat indices possibly in the lower 100s by afternoon."
A heat advisory will resume Monday afternoon for much of the rest of southern Minnesota, including Willmar, Mankato, Red Wing, Owatonna and Albert Lea.
Read more about the forecast on MPR Weather's Updraft blog.
Hennepin and Ramsey counties have created a list of places where people can go for relief from the heat, such as malls, pools, libraries and recreation centers: