Air quality alert north; storms increase Tuesday
Wildfire smoke favors northern Minnesota Monday.
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Our latest batch of Canadian wildfire smoke is drifting mainly across northern Minnesota Monday.
Air quality is in the unhealthy (red) range in the north with a few pockets of unhealthy air elsewhere in Minnesota.
An air quality alert is in effect up north until 6 p.m. Monday.
Air quality is expected to reach the red AQI category in northern Minnesota, which is unhealthy for everyone
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has extended the air quality alert for northern Minnesota. The alert runs until 6 p.m. on Monday, July 14. The affected area includes Brainerd, Hinckley, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, White Earth, Red Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac.
Wildfire smoke that impacted the state this weekend continues to move east and is exiting the state. Air quality has improved below the alert threshold for southern Minnesota, and therefore the alert has been cancelled for this part of the state. Another round of smoke has moved into northwest Minnesota and will result in poor air quality across northern Minnesota through Monday evening. The current air quality alert has been extended until 6 p.m. on Monday. Air quality is expected to reach the red (unhealthy) category across northern Minnesota for the remainder of Sunday and for Monday.
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, across northern Minnesota. This area includes Brainerd, Hinckley, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, White Earth, Red Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac. In the red area, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and limit time spent outdoors. Everyone should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.
Air quality will gradually improve this week across Minnesota.
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Storms increase Tuesday
A frontal system will bring scattered storms to more of Minnesota Tuesday. NOAA’s FV3 model shows the increased coverage. The best chance for another (fading?) line of storms around the Twin Cities favors Tuesday evening. The forecast model loop below runs between midnight and 10 p.m. Tuesday.
There is a marginal risk for severe storms in southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities Tuesday.
A higher slight risk zone favors Duluth and northeast Minnesota.
Stay tuned.
