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We’re back in air quality alert mode across Minnesota. Thick smoke from a swath of Canadian wildfires is drifting southeast into Minnesota. The plume extends from British Columbia and Alberta all the way south across Minnesota to Iowa on Monday. 

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has extended the 

 for southern MInnesota until 11 p.m. Monday. 

Air quality is expected to reach the red AQI category in southern Minnesota, which is unhealthy for everyone.

The rash of forest fires extends from northwest into central Canada. This zone has been upwind of Minnesota for the past few days. 

Air quality is gradually improving across Minnesota. The prevailing winds will shift and blow most of the smoke south and west of Minnesota by Tuesday. 

Here’s NOAA’s HRRR smoke model forecast image for 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Notice how most of the smoke plume has been blown to the south and west of Minnesota. 

With dozens of large fires burning across western Canada, we’ll have to watch for additional waves of smoke across MInnesota in the coming weeks.

Enjoy our clear spring skies on good air quality days while you can. 

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Thick smoke plumes from Canadian wildfires sweeping across the Upper Midwest. 

Canadian wildfire smoke gradually dissipates across Minnesota through Tuesday

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