Air quality alert Tuesday for the northern half of Minnesota
Canadian wildfire smoke likely to mix down to ground level
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The 2023 wildfire season is off to an early and vigorous start in western Canada.
Record heat has fueled numerous wildfires in western Canada.
A northwest airflow means that Minnesota is off to an early start on our smoky skies and air quality alerts.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Rapid Refresh model shows the plume trajectory pushing smoke across Minnesota through Tuesday.
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The smoke layer will create vivid sunrises and sunsets and also reduce air quality as some mixes down to ground level.
Northerly winds will push smoke southward through Minnesota Tuesday.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for the northern half of Minnesota Tuesday.
Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI category in northern Minnesota, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for northern Minnesota. The alert takes effect Tuesday, May 16, beginning at 4 a.m. and runs until Tuesday, May 16, at 4 p.m. The affected area includes the northern half of Minnesota, and the tribal nations of Grand Portage, Fond du Lac, Leech Lake, Red Lake, and Mille Lacs.
A band of smoke from wildfires in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan is currently moving east across Ontario. A strong cold front will dive south overnight and begin pulling this smoke south towards Minnesota. Sinking air behind the front will bring this smoke to the surface. Smoke will cross the Canadian border into northern Minnesota around 4 a.m. Tuesday. Northerly winds will push the smoke as far south as Hinckley and Alexandria by Tuesday afternoon. Air quality should improve across northeast Minnesota Tuesday afternoon. Smoke may linger across northwest Minnesota through Tuesday.
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across northern Minnesota. This area includes Ely, International Falls, Roseau, Duluth, Brainerd, Moorhead, and the tribal nations of Grand Portage, Fond du Lac, Leech Lake, Red Lake, and Mille Lacs. In the orange area, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged time outdoors.
The season’s first smoke event comes with the onset of some of the mildest weather this year. Highs will reach the 80s across much of Minnesota Tuesday.
With record heat and numerous wildfires in western Canada, this could be the first of many smoke episodes over Minnesota this summer.
Stay tuned.