MN Air Quality Index

ALT The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for west central and southwest Minnesota. The alert takes effect 7 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, and runs until 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. The affected area includes Marshall, Worthington, Ortonville, and the Tribal Nation of Upper Sioux. Unseasonably warm temperatures and strong southerly wind gusts in excess of 40 mph across dry soils in an area of drought will result in blowing dust and reduced air quality Saturday morning and afternoon. Decreasing winds will lessen the potential for impacts through the evening. Course particle levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across west central and southwest Minnesota. This area includes Marshall, Worthington, Ortonville, and the Tribal Nation of Upper Sioux. In the orange area, sensitive groups should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.

ALT Heavy smoke has expanded further west into east central and south central Minnesota this morning. While some improvement is possible this afternoon across these areas, additional heavy smoke is forecast to move in from the south this evening and persist through Monday morning. Southeast Minnesota will remain in heavy smoke through Monday morning. As for northeastern Minesota, increasing southwesterly winds through the day will lead to improved air quality for many throughout the afternoon, though areas near the shores of Lake Superior and the wildfires themselves may continue to experience poor air quality until the early evening. Only localized poor air quality will exist thereafter. Red, meaning unhealthy for everyone, is the expected AQI category for all portions of this alert.

ALT The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for east central, west central, north central, northwest, central, and northeast Minnesota. The alert takes effect 10 a.m. on Friday, July 17, and runs until 11 a.m. on Monday, July 20. 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. While heavy smoke retreats across portions of north central and northeastern Minnesota today, heavy smoke is expected to persist across much of northeastern Minnesota through the weekend and into Monday. A separate area of heavy smoke will move across northwestern Minnesota this morning and afternoon. Northwestern Minnesota should see improved air quality by this evening. Additional heavy smoke may move south from Canada this weekend.

ALT The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for east central, central, west central, southeast, north central, northwest, and northeast Minnesota. The alert takes effect 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, and runs until 11 a.m. on Friday, July 17. The affected area includes the Twin Cities metro area, Brainerd, Alexandria, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Winona, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake, White Earth, Red Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac. Heavy smoke will continue to disperse and retreat to the north this evening into Friday morning, with improvements in air quality from south to north with time. On Friday, an area of low pressure moves through the region and further improves air quality for all but northeastern Minnesota. the air quality alert expires at 11am for most of the state, but continues in northeast MN through weekend

ALT The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for east central, central, west central, southeast, north central, south central, northwest, and northeast Minnesota. The alert takes effect 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, and runs until 11 a.m. on Friday, July 17. The affected area includes the Twin Cities metro area, Brainerd, Alexandria, Rochester, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Winona, Mankato, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Upper Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake, White Earth, Red Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac. Very heavy smoke from large wildfires across the Arrowhead and southern Canada will continue spreading south through central, northwest, and portions of southeastern Minnesota through tonight and into Thursday morning. Hourly observations have already surpassed previous records for the Twin Cities, and additional record readings are possible.

ALT The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for east central, central, west central, southeast, north central, northwest, and northeast Minnesota. The alert takes effect 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, and runs until 11 a.m. on Friday, July 17. Very heavy smoke from large wildfires across the Arrowhead and southern Canada will continue spreading south through central, northwest, and portions of southeastern Minnesota through this evening and into Thursday morning. Existing smoke and additional rounds of heavy smoke will then remain possible across the alert area through Friday morning, when a cold front is forecast to bring in cleaner air. Heat will exacerbate health impacts during periods of poor air quality. The alert may need to be extended for parts of the state beyond Friday morning. Fine particle levels are expected to reach the maroon air quality index (AQI) category (hazardous for everyone), across northeast and east central MN

ALT Very heavy smoke is expected across the Arrowhead again today, and it will continue to spread further south behind a frontal boundary into east central Minnesota as well. Hot temperatures, when combined with the air pollution, will exacerbate health impacts. Heavy smoke is most likely to first impact the Twin Cities, southeastern and much of central Minnesota this evening and overnight into Thursday morning. Additional rounds of heavy smoke are possible from Thursday through Friday morning across the alert area. Fine particle levels are expected to reach the maroon air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered hazardous, across northeast Minnesota. This area includes Two Harbors, Duluth, and the Tribal Nations of Grand Portage and Fond du Lac. In the maroon area, everyone should avoid any outdoor activity and stay indoors

ALT The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for east central, central, west central, southeast, north central, northwest, and northeast Minnesota. The alert takes effect 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14, and runs until 11 a.m. on Friday, July 17. Very heavy smoke is expected across the Arrowhead today, as large wildfires continue to spread. Hot temperatures, when combined with the air pollution, will exacerbate health impacts. A frontal boundary will then spread heavy smoke further south this evening into Wednesday morning, as it moves across northern and central Minnesota. The onset of smoke will be rapid. This boundary eventually passes through the Twin Cities and into southeastern Minnesota on Wednesday or Wednesday evening, bringing heavy smoke even further south. Additional rounds of heavy smoke are possible from Thursday through Friday morning across the alert area.

ALT The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for northeast Minnesota. The alert takes effect 7 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14, and runs until 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 16. The affected area includes Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, and the Tribal Nation of Grand Portage. Heavy smoke from several large wildfires across northeast Minnesota and Canada will move south behind a frontal boundary across much of northeast Minnesota beginning on Tuesday. High temperatures will be in the 90s across the alert area Tuesday, and the combination of wildfire smoke and extreme heat amplifies health risks. Heavy smoke may move further south into Minnesota Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, so the air quality alert may need to be expanded. Additional rounds of heavy smoke are possible across the region through at least Thursday morning. Fine particle levels are expected to reach the purple air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered very unhealthy for everyone.

ALT Ground-level ozone is expected to be high on Tuesday afternoon in the Twin Cities metro area and central Minnesota. Mostly sunny skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity will provide a favorable environment for two types of pollutants (volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides) to react with sunlight in the air to produce ground-level ozone. Ozone is expected to increase during the late morning, reach alert levels during the afternoon, and then subside in the early evening. Ozone levels are expected to reach the orange AQI category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across the Twin Cities and central Minnesota. Sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and limit time spent outdoors.

ALT The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an Orange AQI category air quality alert for the Twin Cities. The alert takes effect noon on Friday, May 29, and runs until 9 p.m. on Friday, May 29. The affected area includes the Twin Cities metro area and the Tribal Nation of Prairie Island. Ground-level ozone is expected to be high Friday afternoon in the Twin Cities metro area. Mostly sunny skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity will provide a favorable environment for two types of pollutants (volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides) to react with sunlight in the air to produce ground-level ozone. High/thin clouds will be present, but enough solar radiation should make it to the surface for ozone formation. Ozone levels are expected to reach alert criteria around noon and will subside after sunset. Additional alerts for ozone may be needed over the weekend if cloud cover is less than expected.

ALT The air quality index forecast shows Green, meaning good, for all of Minnesota for both Thursday and Friday

ALT The air quality index forecast is Green, meaning good, for all of Minnesota on Saturday, October 11th.

ALT The air quality forecast is Yellow, meaning moderate, for portions of southern Minnesota, and Green, meaning good, for the rest of the state on Sunday, October 12th

ALT The air quality index forecast is Green, meaning good, for all of Minnesota through Friday, October 10th.

ALT The statewide air quality index forecast through Thursday, October 9th, is Green, meaning Good.

ALT The air quality forecast for today, Thursday September 18th, is Green, meaning good, for all locations other than in and around the Twin Cities and Rochester areas where Yellow, meaning moderate, air quality is expected.

ALT The air quality forecast for Friday, September 19th, is Green, meaning good, statewide