Saturday rain chance favors southern Minnesota; warmest temps north

Head north if you want a lot of sunshine this Saturday.

A low pressure system to our south is spinning some moisture over southern Minnesota. The best rain chances this Saturday will be in west-central and southwestern Minnesota, with scattered showers also possible in south-central and southeastern Minnesota. An isolated t-storm is also possible.

NOAA’s High-Resolution Rapid-Refresh (HRRR) forecast model shows the potential rain pattern Saturday and Saturday evening:

The Twin Cities metro area could see a passing shower today, and an isolated thunderstorm cannot be ruled out.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the Minnesota Public Radio network, and you can see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.

Temps warmest north

Much of northern Minnesota will have Saturday highs in the 80s, with 70s in parts of the northeast and on into southern Minnesota:

Saturday dew points will be in the comfortable 40s and 50s north, with stickier 60s to the south:

Air quality alert

The Minnesota Pollution Control agency has issued an air quality alert for northeastern Minnesota and parts of north-central Minnesota from 6 a.m. this Saturday to 6 a.m. Monday:

Here are details of the alert, from the MPCA:

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for northeast Minnesota, effective Saturday, July 10, beginning at 6 a.m. through Monday, July 12, at 6 a.m. The affected area includes Duluth, Ely, Hibbing, International Falls, Two Harbors, Grand Marais, and Grand Portage, and the tribal areas of Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, and Red Lake.

Smoke from wildfires located north of the Canadian border in Ontario and Manitoba will be transported by northerly winds circulating around high pressure into the northeast part of the state. Heavy smoke is expected to arrive Saturday morning and remain over the area into Monday morning. During this time, fine particle levels are expected to be in the Orange AQI category, a level that is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. The lake breeze along Lake Superior will help bring heavier smoke down towards the surface, then the smoke will tend to drift westward towards north central Minnesota. On Monday, winds will turn out of the south and steer the smoke northward into Canada.

People whose health is affected by unhealthy air quality

There are people who are more likely to be affected when fine particle pollution reaches an unhealthy level.

• People who have asthma or other breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• People who have heart disease or high blood pressure.

• Children and older adults.

• People of all ages who are doing extended or heavy, physical activity like playing sports or working outdoors.

Health effects

Air pollution can aggravate heart and cardiovascular disease as well as lung diseases like asthma and COPD. When the air quality is unhealthy, people with these conditions may experience symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, or fatigue. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, use your inhalers as directed and contact your health care provider.

Take precautions

• Everyone should take precautions when the air quality is unhealthy.

• Take it easy and listen to your body.

• Limit, change, or postpone your physical activity.

• If possible, stay away from local sources of air pollution like busy roads and wood fires.

• If you have asthma, or other breathing conditions like COPD, make sure you have your relief/rescue inhaler with you.

• People with asthma should review and follow guidance in their written asthma action plan. Make an appointment to see your health provider if you don’t have an asthma action plan.

This Updraft blog will be updated around 10:20 a.m. with a look at Sunday and the week ahead.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.