Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Air quality deteriorates overnight as wildfire smoke drifts in from the west

Seasonal temperatures to start the week

Timing of heavy smoke
Timing of heavy smoke
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Air quality is expected to deteriorate overnight as wildfire smoke drifts in from the west, bringing hazy skies to start the week, with seasonal temperatures continuing.

Deteriorating air quality

Our wildfire smoke took it’s time through the Dakotas on Sunday, but will be impacting western Minnesota by late tonight, and then eastern Minnesota by Monday morning.

Timing of heavy smoke
Timing of heavy smoke
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Near-surface smoke density Sunday 7 p.m. to Monday 9 a.m.
Near-surface smoke density Sunday 7 p.m. to Monday 9 a.m.
NOAA via Pivotal Weather

An air quality alert remains in effect until Tuesday at 9 a.m., with AQI levels expected to reach the orange and red categories across the state.

Air quality alert for Sunday 9 a.m. to Tuesday 9 a.m.
Air quality alert for Sunday 9 a.m. to Tuesday 9 a.m.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Check the latest air quality conditions, alerts and forecast here:

Seasonal start to work week

Sunday night will be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping into the low 60s in the south and mid to upper 50s in the north. Patchy fog may develop again in eastern Minnesota, similar to what we saw early Sunday morning.

Lows for Sunday night
Lows for Sunday night
National Weather Service

High temperatures to start the week will be very seasonable for mid-August, with highs in the low to mid-80s and dew points holding in the 60s.

Highs for Monday
Highs for Monday
National Weather Service

A weak disturbance could bring light showers mainly to northern Minnesota on Monday.

Forecast precipitation Monday 7 a.m. to Tuesday 7 a.m.
Forecast precipitation Monday 7 a.m. to Tuesday 7 a.m.
NOAA via Pivotal Weather

High pressure will bring sunshine and dry conditions Tuesday and Wednesday. Our next focus shifts to late week into the weekend as a stalled boundary nearby brings multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms. Heavy rainfall is possible at some point next weekend.