Filtered sunshine for Sunday; temps rebound

As expected, it was a colorful sunrise this morning:

Smoke is staying aloft in much of Minnesota, but parts of northern Minnesota have seen air quality near the ground affected by the Canadian wildfire smoke this weekend.

Air quality alert

The Minnesota Pollution Control agency issued an air quality alert for northeastern Minnesota and parts of north-central Minnesota that started Saturday morning and continues to 6 a.m. Monday:

Here are details of the alert (which is shaded orange in the map above), from the MPCA:

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for northeast Minnesota, effective Saturday, July 10, beginning at 6 a.m. through Monday, July 12, at 6 a.m. The affected area includes Duluth, Ely, Hibbing, International Falls, Two Harbors, Grand Marais, and Grand Portage, and the tribal areas of Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, and Red Lake.

Smoke from wildfires located north of the Canadian border in Ontario and Manitoba will be transported by northerly winds circulating around high pressure into the northeast part of the state. Heavy smoke is expected to arrive Saturday morning and remain over the area into Monday morning. During this time, fine particle levels are expected to be in the Orange AQI category, a level that is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. The lake breeze along Lake Superior will help bring heavier smoke down towards the surface, then the smoke will tend to drift westward towards north central Minnesota. On Monday, winds will turn out of the south and steer the smoke northward into Canada.

People whose health is affected by unhealthy air quality

There are people who are more likely to be affected when fine particle pollution reaches an unhealthy level.

• People who have asthma or other breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• People who have heart disease or high blood pressure.

• Children and older adults.

• People of all ages who are doing extended or heavy, physical activity like playing sports or working outdoors.

Health effects

Air pollution can aggravate heart and cardiovascular disease as well as lung diseases like asthma and COPD. When the air quality is unhealthy, people with these conditions may experience symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, or fatigue. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, use your inhalers as directed and contact your health care provider.

Take precautions

• Everyone should take precautions when the air quality is unhealthy.

• Take it easy and listen to your body.

• Limit, change, or postpone your physical activity.

• If possible, stay away from local sources of air pollution like busy roads and wood fires.

• If you have asthma, or other breathing conditions like COPD, make sure you have your relief/rescue inhaler with you.

• People with asthma should review and follow guidance in their written asthma action plan. Make an appointment to see your health provider if you don’t have an asthma action plan.

The Canadian wildfire smoke is expected to stay mainly aloft over parts of central and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin this Sunday. A colorful sunset is expected.

Sunday temps and dew points

Our average Twin Cities high temperature is 84 degrees this time of year. Much of the metro area will top out in the mid 80s Sunday afternoon. Highs in the 80s are expected across most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin:

A few spots in far northwestern Minnesota could top 90. There may be some upper 70s up along the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Dew points will be in the comfortable 50s in most spots:

Rain isn’t expected today.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the Minnesota Public Radio network, and you can see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.

This Updraft blog will be updated around 10:20 a.m. with a look at the week ahead.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.