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Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News
Paul Huttner

Wildfire smoke aloft over parts of Minnesota

Smoke plumes from Canadian wildfires drifting over Minnesota this week

Wildfire smoke plume
Wildfire smoke plume across northern Minnesota Monday
NASA, via University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Numerous wildfires are burning in northwestern Canada. The large fires are putting out some massive plumes of thick smoke.

The mid and upper-air wind flow has turned from the northwest across southern Canada into Minnesota. That’s pushing the currently elevated smoke layers into Minnesota this week.

The thickest smoke layers Monday are across northern Minnesota. NASA’s MODIS Terra image (above) from Monday afternoon shows thick smoke across northern Minnesota.

A wider view shows the extent of the large smoke plume streaming across Canada and into parts of Minnesota Monday.

Wildfire smoke
Wildfire smoke map
airnow.gov

More smoke Tuesday

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Rapid Refresh model below shows the smoke layer drifting farther south on Tuesday.

The forecast image below for 9 a.m. Tuesday suggests a thicker smoke layer will be aloft over central and southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities area.

RAP model smoke forecast
Rapid Refresh model smoke forecast for a.m. Tuesday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Air quality readings

Most of the smoke is aloft Monday. But air quality forecasts from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency suggest we could see a rise in particulate matter readings into the moderate range Tuesday and Wednesday here on the ground.

Air quality forecast for the Twin Cities
Air quality forecast for the Twin Cities
MPCA

We’ll have to keep an eye on air quality index readings this week. The amount of smoke at ground level will depend on how much elevated smoke is able to mix down to the surface.

Stay tuned.