The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for northwest and north central Minnesota. The alert will be in effect from 6 a.m. on Friday, July 11, to 6 p.m. on the same day.
The affected area includes Brainerd, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, International Falls, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, White Earth, and Red Lake. The alert is due to heavy ground-level smoke from wildfires in central Canada moving into northwest Minnesota early Friday morning behind a cold front.
The first band of smoke will swiftly traverse northern Minnesota during the day on Friday and reach northeast Minnesota by the evening. A second round of smoke is expected to arrive in northwest Minnesota on Friday evening. This round of smoke will be more extensive and may impact the northern half of the state on Saturday.
The alert may need to be extended to cover the second round of smoke. Cleaner air is anticipated to enter the state from the west on Sunday, and air quality is expected to improve starting Sunday afternoon. Fine particle levels are projected to reach the purple air quality index (AQI) category, which is considered very unhealthy for everyone, across northwest Minnesota.
This area includes Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Red Lake, Leech Lake, and White Earth. In the purple air quality zone, everyone should avoid prolonged or strenuous activities and stay indoors.
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, which is considered unhealthy for everyone, across northwest and north central Minnesota.
This region encompasses Brainerd, Moorhead, International Falls, and the Tribal Nations of Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, White Earth, and Red Lake. In the red air quality zone, individuals with sensitive health conditions should avoid prolonged or strenuous physical activity and limit their time spent outdoors.
Everyone should take precautions to avoid prolonged or strenuous physical activity and limit their time spent outdoors.
MDH sends these air quality alert messages only once a day, unless the air quality worsens. Air quality can change quickly, so be sure to check current air quality conditions.
