Air quality alert for northeastern Minnesota through Friday evening
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An air quality alert is in effect for parts of St. Louis, Lake, Carleton and Cook counties, including the cities of Ely, Isabella, Hibbing, Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Grand Marais and Duluth.
The alert runs through 6 p.m. Friday.
The alert was issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency due to fine particles pollution with the Air Quality Index expected to reach the red or unhealthy category.
Heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires across southeast Manitoba is drifting southeastward.
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“The air quality alert we have posted in the Arrowhead is the opening wave of smoke, of potentially several waves that will occur through this weekend and into early next week,” MPCA meteorologist Matt Taraldsen said.
MPR News meteorologists Sven Sundgaard says that the smoke from numerous large fires throughout Canada is blowing in on upper level and surface winds thanks to high pressure over Saskatchewan.
It may linger near the shores of Lake Superior overnight into Friday.
Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease and children and older adults may experience health impacts. Experts recommend everyone avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
They also recommend reducing or avoiding activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning. Reduce vehicle trips or idling as much as possible and keep windows closed overnight to limit smoke getting indoors.
Air quality conditions may worsen after more heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires is blown into Minnesota. This may cause more air quality alerts across other parts of the state. And Sundgaard says that we may be in for on and off smoky skies similar to some recent summers with the amount of fires burning in Canada due to warm, dry conditions there.
Air quality condition updates and further information can be found at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
