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Live updates: Wildfires in Minnesota
Molly Castle Work

Air quality alerts spread across Minnesota as wildfires rage, sending smoke south

Smoke over water
Smoke rises in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on Tuesday near Ely, Minn. The wildfire was one of several fires burning across northeastern Minnesota that prompted officials to close the entire Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to visitors because of extreme fire danger.
Courtesy of Eric Bailey

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As wildfires rage throughout northern Minnesota and around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, air quality continues to worsen — driving air quality health alerts well beyond the region.

Minnesota's North Shore experienced the worst air quality in America Tuesday. The U.S. Forest Service has closed the Boundary Waters through Friday at least because of the rapidly growing fires and the extreme heat, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has deployed the National Guard to help in evacuation and fire mitigation efforts.

The Air Quality Index was at 226 in Ely Tuesday afternoon — labeled “very unhealthy” — meaning those exposed could experience serious health effects.

Matt Taraldsen, meteorologist for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, told Minnesota Now on MPR News Tuesday that the state is seeing such intense air quality conditions because winds from the north have been pushing the smoke around Thunder Bay and then down into the Arrowhead. And on Wednesday, smoke will move into central Minnesota.

Taraldsen said Minnesotans should take caution in the smoky conditions and pay attention to updating air quality alerts. He predicts smoky conditions will arrive further south in the Twin Cities by Wednesday afternoon and into the Mississippi River Valley by the evening.

“The biggest thing is to avoid the outdoors if you can,” Taraldsen said. “If you cannot, you can wear an N95 [respirator] or a KN95 mask that will block those particles from getting into your lungs.”

He added that the combination of the extreme heat Minnesotans are seeing and the poor air quality can be a “one-two punch.” And people who are very young, very old, pregnant or outdoors for an extended period of time will feel the impacts fastest.

Taraldsen said that the warm temperatures, gusty winds, and dry conditions are fueling the wildfires and lofting more smoke deeper into the atmosphere.

Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Data updates hourly. About the AQI.

Pollution from wildfire smoke can cause shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest pain and fatigue and can aggravate conditions like asthma and heart disease.

“It's important to pay attention to what your body's telling you,” Taraldsen reminded Minnesotans. “Wear a mask if you can, and then limit your time outdoors and your exertion outdoors if you can.”