After record-setting bad air quality Thursday, smoky and hazy conditions to continue
Southwestern Minnesota is starting the day with rain showers
Minnesota is in for another smoky, hazy day Friday, with chances for a few showers and storms on the northern and southern edges of the state.
Friday’s forecast
Under clear skies and low humidity, northern Minnesota was off to a brisk start Friday morning with most spots in the 50s, but 40s in the Arrowhead. Crane Lake even dropped down to 39.
Southern Minnesota had a few more clouds and stayed in the 60s.
High will be in the 70s and 80s.
The extra clouds south Friday morning are thanks to a storm system sliding south of the state, which is already bringing a few showers into the southwest corner of the state as of 7:30 a.m., and there will be a few showers and storms during the day along the Iowa border.
Northern Minnesota is also likely to see a couple showers or storms by Friday evening and during the overnight, thanks to a disturbance moving through. Neither area is expected to significant rainfall.
Otherwise, skies would be mostly sunny, except following the worst air quality ever recorded in Minnesota Thursday, there is still widespread smoke and haze across the state.
Almost all of Minnesota is under an air quality alert until at least 3 p.m.
The smoke should diminish slightly later Friday thanks to a southerly wind flow, but winds are expected from the north again overnight Friday and into Saturday, which could funnel back in more smoke from the Canadian fires.
That extended forecast will be updated around 9 a.m.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.
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