Smoky start, cooler this weekend

After a record high temp of 92 yesterday in the Twin Cities, you knew it had to get cooler.

Highs this weekend will be closer to our normal highs for early May.

Smoke this morning

Smoke from a wildfire in northern Minnesota and the ongoing Canadian wildfires has spread over eastern Minnesota and the Twin Cities this morning:

The smoke has made our air quality unhealthy over the Twin Cities and southeastern Minnesota:

Readings over 200 are in the very unhealthy category.

When air quality is in the unhealthy range, it is best to limit outdoor activities and keep windows closed until the air quality improves.

An air pollution advisory remains in effect today over much of northeastern Minnesota, due to smoke.

When winds shift from north to northwest this afternoon, our air quality should improve in the Twin Cities.

You can get the latest air quality report here .

***Update-Here is part of the morning news release from MPCA: "The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air pollution health alert for eastern/southern and southeastern Minnesota effective through 10 p.m. Saturday evening. The affected area is Twin Cities metro, Rochester, Mankato, Owatonna, Faribault and Winona.

Air pollution monitors show a rapid rise in particulate matter with values exceeding AQI 100 along with weather observations showing visibilities dropping to 1-3 miles in smoke across the Twin Cities metropolitan area as well as southern Minnesota locations. The smoke plume that traveled south from southwest Ontario, Canada and then northern Minnesota will continue to move south-southeast across the remainder of the area. Another fire from north central Minnesota is also contributing to the smoke. Periods of smoke are expected to persist in this area through Saturday afternoon/night. During this time, fine particle pollution is expected to remain at or above a level that is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups."

Fire danger

It is still very dry over much of Minnesota. The strongest winds will be to our north today. Those areas have the highest fire danger, and a red flag warning has been issued for much of central and northern Minnesota until 7pm this evening:

Any fires could spread rapidly today, so outdoor burning is not recommended.

There is an elevated fire danger over southern Minnesota as well, even though the south is not included in the red flag warning.

Weekend highs

Here are your cooler highs for today:

And for Mother's Day tomorrow:

Rain in sight?

A low pressure system will move closer on Monday, giving us a chance of showers and thunderstorms:

There is a good chance of occasional showers and some thunderstorms from Monday evening into Tuesday:

Showers could linger into Wednesday.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates weekend mornings at 735 on Minnesota Public Radio.