Rain moves in by late Wednesday

Northern Minnesota is still under an air quality alert

The air quality across Minnesota keeps improving Wednesday, and needed rain starts pushing into the state by the end of the day.

Wednesday’s forecast

As the state is now under a southerly wind flow, morning temperatures are slightly milder than the past couple mornings, with many 50s, but even more spots starting the day in the 60s. 

Many places will also see highs nudge slightly higher, with most of Minnesota in the upper 80s Wednesday afternoon.

weather graphic
Wednesday high temperatures
National Weather Service

Having winds out of the south has helped to greatly reduce the amount of smoke across Minnesota from the Canadian wildfires.

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Tuesday morning at 6 a.m., most of the state had air readings in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category, and portions of western Minnesota were in the higher “unhealthy” category. By contrast, Wednesday at 6 a.m. most of Minnesota was in the “moderate” category, with no “unhealthy” readings. 

Here is that side-by-side comparison:

weather graphic
Air quality comparison Tuesday versus Wednesday
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

However, because much of northern Minnesota still has readings that are “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” that area is still under an air quality alert until Wednesday evening. 

Skies will be mostly dry Wednesday, but clouds increase through the day from the west. Western Minnesota is likely to see a couple showers by the afternoon, and a more widespread shower and storm chance by the end of the day.

That system brings a needed rain across Minnesota Thursday, and it’s just one of several rain chances in the week ahead.

That extended forecast will be updated around 9:30 a.m.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.