Hazy and warm with reduced air quality west; showers Thursday
Weekend looking gorgeous
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Smoke still fills the skies across Minnesota and air quality is expected to be diminished to moderate in western Minnesota. Highs will be in the 70s east to low 80s west Wednesday. Showers develop late Wednesday into Thursday.
Smoke and air quality update
Smoke still fills the skies of Minnesota Wednesday. Luckily, like Tuesday for most of the state the smoke remains elevated aloft rather than at the surface so air quality isn’t as greatly impacted as it could be.
Most of Minnesota is seeing good air quality early Wednesday which is under 50 in the air quality index. There is a pocket of southwestern Minnesota with moderate (between 50 and 100) air quality.
Much of northern, central and western Minnesota is expected to develop moderate air quality (50 to 100) with the Twin Cities and eastern Minnesota remaining “good.”
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Our next weather system, a clipper and cold front coming in from the northwest, is bringing more smoke with it. Air flows counter-clockwise into areas of low pressure and we can see that on satellite imagery.
This means air quality on Thursday is expected to diminish. Eastern Minnesota will see moderate air quality and western Minnesota will develop unhealthy air for sensitive groups (over 100) in the air quality index).
Some showers, then a nice weekend
Wednesday will be dry for most but slightly cooler with hazy sunshine. We’ll see highs in the 70s east to low 80s in the west.
Showers will develop late Wednesday into northwestern Minnesota with that clipper system. That chance spreads east and south Thursday with some lingering showers Friday in northeastern Minnesota. Behind the system high pressure sets in for the weekend.
Rainfall amounts will be lightest in southwestern Minnesota, luckily — they do not need any more moisture — and will be highest in northeastern Minnesota where conditions are dry.
Friday will be cool with highs in the low 60s behind the cold front.
The weekend is looking gorgeous with highs mostly in the 70s and lots of sunshine. Smoke should be minimal in the skies Saturday but may return in some form Sunday.
