Air quality alert for Minnesota; weekend looks dry, cooler
Drought severity increases
Northerly winds are spreading smoke from Canadian wildfires across much of Minnesota this Thursday. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for most of Minnesota, which will continue into Friday afternoon.
The smoke is expected to be thickest in the red-shaded area from western Minnesota into the western part of the Twin Cities metro area.
Here are additional details of the air quality alert, from the MPCA and the National Weather Service:
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Northerly winds behind a cold front have brought smoke from wildfires located north of the Canadian border in Ontario and Manitoba into Minnesota. As of 8 a.m. Thursday morning, an area of heavy smoke extends across north central Minnesota, from the Canadian border to St. Cloud. This smoke will continue to move south today. Smoke will remain over the state into Friday. A brief period of very heavy smoke is expected to impact north central Minnesota this morning and south central Minnesota this afternoon. Overall today, fine particle levels are expected to reach the Red AQI category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, across central and south central Minnesota. This area includes St Cloud, Mankato, the western half of the Twin Cities, and the tribal nations of Upper Sioux, and Mille Lacs. Fine particle levels are expected to be in the Orange AQI category, a level that is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, for the remainder of the alert area. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. The general public should limit prolonged or heavy exertion.
You can check the latest Minnesota air quality reports here.
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Drought expands
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report shows that slightly more than 75 percent of Minnesota is in either extreme drought (shaded red) or severe drought (shaded orange):
Fifty-three percent of Minnesota is in severe drought — including most of the Twin Cities metro area — with 22 percent in extreme drought. Add in the moderate category (shaded beige) and 98 percent of Minnesota is in some category of drought. One year ago, that was about 8 percent.
The data cutoff for the drought report is 7 a.m. on Tuesday, so any rainfall since that time is not included in the report.
Parts of Minnesota saw some rain Wednesday, but we could use a lot more. Northern and central Iowa and parts of southern Wisconsin are also in drought right now:
Extreme or exceptional drought conditions cover much of North Dakota, South Dakota and the western U.S.:
Weekend forecast
Saturday and Sunday are expected to be rain-free in most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
Our average twin Cities high temperature is 83 degrees on July 31. Highs in the mid 80s are expected in the metro area Saturday, and most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin will reach the 80s:
There will be some 70s in the far north.
Dew points will in the comfortable 50s to lower 60s:
Sunday highs range from the 70s in northern and central Minnesota to the lower 80s south:
Sunday dew points will be in the very comfortable 40s and lower 50s:
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.