A summery Sunday; Chance of a shower/t-storm northern Minn.

A nearby high pressure system gave us light winds overnight into early Sunday, which allowed areas of fog to develop.

The densest fog has been in portions of western Wisconsin and in a few spots in eastern Minnesota. A dense fog advisory continues until 9 a.m. this Sunday from Polk, St. Croix and Pierce counties of Wisconsin through Goodhue and Wabasha counties of Minnesota and eastward into central Wisconsin.

Air quality alert to the north

Due to smoke from Canadian wildfires, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency continues an air quality alert today and until 6 p.m. Monday in the orange-shaded counties of northern and central Minnesota:

Here are the alert details,

Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI category in central and northern Minn., which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for central and northern Minn. The alert takes effect at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, and runs until 6 p.m. on Monday, July 24. The affected area includes Brainerd, Alexandria, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Bemidji, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and the tribal nations of Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, Red Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac.

A narrow band of heavy smoke located across southern Manitoba will be transported towards Minn. by northwest winds. This smoke originated from wildfires in northern Alberta and British Columbia. Ground-level smoke will reach northern Minn. by 4 p.m. on Saturday, behind a cold front. Fine particle levels will reach the orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) category across north central Minn. by late afternoon Saturday and will persist through the overnight. 

On Sunday, as the smoke band continues to move across northern Minn. additional smoke will reach the ground across northeast and central Minn. As daytime heating increases surface temperatures and mixes the atmosphere, elevated smoke will reach the ground around midday. Fine particle levels will be in the orange category across northern and central Minn. on Sunday. Winds will become westerly on Monday. The area of ground-level smoke will begin to move east and exit the state. Air quality should improve by Monday morning across central and north central Minn. However, air quality is expected to remain in the orange category across northeast Minn. on Monday.

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across central and northern Minn. In the orange area, sensitive groups should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.

The air quality alert does not include the Twin Cities metro area.

You can check the hourly Minnesota air quality measurements here.

Scattered rain chances to the north

Today will be dry in many areas, but scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible Sunday afternoon and evening in portions of northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model shows the potential rain pattern from noon Sunday to 10 p.m. Sunday:

Western Minnesota could also see some scattered showers and thunderstorms later Sunday night into early Monday.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News network. You can check the MPR radar here.

You can also check these National Weather Service sites for updated weather info: Twin Cities, Duluth, La Crosse, Wis., Sioux Falls, S.D., and Grand Forks, N.D.

Summery warmth

The average Twin Cities high temperature is 84 degrees this time of year. Metro area highs are expected to reach the upper 80s Sunday afternoon.

Most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin will have Sunday highs in the 80s:

Parts of north-central and northeastern Minnesota will top out in the 70s.

Update

A new Updraft will be posted around 10:30 a.m. today. It will include a look at the hot 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.