As smoky skies clear, experts say Minnesotans should prepare for more bad air

Updated: 5:30 p.m.

First, the good news: the worst of this latest band of thick, choking wildfire smoke is finally ending across the state, says Minnesota Pollution Control Agency air quality meteorologist David Brown.

“Still a little hazy out there, you’re still gonna see the smoke a little bit, you might smell it a little bit — but the readings have dropped quite a bit,” Brown said Thursday, after the Twin Cities saw its worst air quality measurements on record on Wednesday. Other parts of the state also saw thick smoke hanging in the air through the day.

Brown said it’ll likely be Friday before unhealthy air quality levels in some parts of southern Minnesota return to “good” and “moderate” levels.

That may be it for this round of bad air, but now the bad news: Brown said Minnesotans should get used to watching the air quality index more closely in the weeks ahead.

“Unfortunately, I think that’s what we’re in for, for the rest of the summer,” he said. “What we’re seeing is very, very similar to 2021 — except we’re basically two months ahead of schedule. So the official wildfire season in Canada hasn’t even started yet. They’ve already reached the second-highest total, as far as like land area burned, and we haven't even reached the peak of the summer season.”

Health effects

Minnesota clinics and hospitals are seeing the effects of all the smoky air.

“People are seeing a lot more cases of asthma attacks showing up, people with chronic lung disease or chronic heart disease showing up to the urgent care or emergency room or to their primary doctor, potentially needing some medication or needing a little bit more help than they normally would,” said Dr. Zeke McKinney, an occupational and environmental medicine specialist at HealthPartners.

McKinney said people with lung and heart disease are at high risk of experiencing health complications when air quality deteriorates. But he said there’s a long list of others who can run into difficulties: infants and younger children, people who work outside and people over 65. Even teenagers are at risk, he said, as they tend to be more active outside.

How can you reduce your risk?

Looking ahead to the next time Minnesota sees bad air, McKinney said people — especially those at high risk — should consider wearing face masks to keep that smoky air from getting into their lungs. He said anything, even a scarf, can help — though N95 or KN95 masks are the best choice.

And, he said, one of the simplest ways that people can reduce their risk is by staying indoors.

But even indoor air quality can be problematic. McKinney recommended that people make sure their furnace and AC filters are clean. He said portable air purifiers are effective. He also advised people to refrain from using stoves and ovens, which can further reduce indoor air quality when conditions outdoors are a concern.

McKinney noted bad air is a major public health issue that exacerbates longstanding health inequities.

“People who are not as affluent with respect to money, may not have good access to health care, may not have good access to ... indoor places to exercise, aren’t going to have good access to necessary masks or even to get in to see the doctor if they’re having problems,” he said. So it’s definitely a public health issue of concern, because the impacts will be felt inequitably for sure.”

David Brown at the MPCA said that although conditions have improved significantly for now, it will remain hazy in many parts of the state in the near term. Beyond that, he said people should do what they can to prepare for the next round of bad air.

“As of right now, the next few days looks OK, improving air quality — but I think it’s just a matter of time before that next wave of smoke moves in,” he said.

After event cancellations, planning for what’s next

At the height of the dangerously bad air conditions across Minnesota on Wednesday, some city park systems, and youth and amateur sports leagues, canceled their activities for the day.

For the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, event cancellations in the summer are nothing new. But spokesperson Dawn Sommers said in the past they were usually heat-related.

“I’ve been here almost 18 years and I’ve talked to a variety of people ... and no one can recall any type of air quality or smoke kind of closure,” she said.

Events were back on as scheduled in Minneapolis parks on Thursday.

Viktor Adamcsek has directed the St. Paul Blackhawks Soccer Club for 15 years; the club also canceled games and training on Wednesday.

“We have canceled games due to high heat. We have canceled games due to cold weather. But this was the first year that we will have canceled for air quality,” Adamcsek said.

Adamcsek said the league is trying to protect the health of its players and coaches. With improving conditions, the club planned to hold games on Thursday night but was monitoring the situation.

In St. Paul city parks, outdoor programs were back on schedule Thursday after cancellations the day before.

While planned activities were canceled on Wednesday, the parks stayed open for people who wanted to visit them amid the haze.

“If someone wanted to go to their neighborhood park or a regional park, like — we can’t stop them from doing that. We can’t shut everything down completely,” said Andy Rodriguez, director of parks and recreation for the city of St. Paul. “That’s where that education and awareness comes in from the city side, about just taking appropriate measures if they do venture out.”

In case of further air quality alerts, Rodriguez said the city would relay such information through its various social media channels, such as the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Facebook page.

MPR's Sarah Thamer, Feven Gerezgiher and Regina Medina contributed to this report.

• HHS layoffs hit Meals on Wheels and other services for seniors and disabled
• Teens and addiction: How to recognize substance use disorder and offer support
• States sue Trump administration for rescinding billions in health funding
• Minnesota Department of Health announces layoffs amid federal funding cuts