Prompts winter weather advisories as cold air moves in Friday night

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Canadian wildfire smoke covers most of the Midwest this week. The thickest smoke lingers over Minnesota through Friday. The 

Check out the coverage of unhealthy air (red) across the Midwest Thursday afternoon. Thick smoke has drifted all the way south into central Illinois southeast into eastern Iowa and Michigan.

The worst of one of the longest smoke events on record in will be with us through Thursday night and Friday.

On the map below, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model near-surface smoke density shows the thickest smoke swirling overhead Friday with some easing by Saturday.

Southerly winds will begin to blow on Saturday, but with smoke penetration so far to our south we’ll actually recycle some of that smoke so improving air quality will be gradual process.

Here’s the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s forecast discussion:

In other weather news our temperatures and humidity will be very comfortable through the upcoming weekend. Highs in the 70s will persist through the weekend.

We’re drying out, too. Soggy farm fields and wet basements will get a chance to dry out into at least early next week.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

The worst air quality of one of the longest smoke events on record in will be with us through Thursday night and Friday.

Smoky skies continue Friday; air quality improves gradually by Saturday

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