Air quality alert continues into the weekend across Minnesota, Wisconsin

The major weather headline across Minnesota as we move into the weekend centers on our 24th air quality alert of 2023.

A secondary theme is a few more scattered thunderstorms Friday evening, with spotty chances again Saturday. As of this post, scattered thunderstorms are bubbling along across parts of central and southern Minnesota. The cells will drift eastward through Friday evening.

A few cells will pack local downpours, lightning, thunder, possible hail and gusty winds.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center does not anticipate issuing a severe weather watch, putting the chances at just 20 percent.

You can check the latest radar image here on the MPR News weather page.

Air quality alert

Another batch of Canadian wildfire smoke is drifting through the Upper Midwest. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued a record 24th air quality alert for Minnesota. The latest set of alerts extends into Saturday or Sunday, depending on your location.

Here’s the latest forecast discussion from the MPCA.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for all of Minnesota due to wildfire smoke. The alert is effective from 8 a.m. Friday, July 14, through 3 p.m. Saturday, July 15. The affected area includes all of Minnesota as well as the tribal nations of Prairie Island, Mille Lacs, Fond du Lac, Upper Sioux, Leech Lake, Red Lake and Grand Portage.

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, all of Minnesota. In the orange area, sensitive groups should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.

Smoke from wildfires in Alberta and British Columbia will move south across Minnesota following a cold front on Friday. The sinking air associated with the cold front will push smoke elevated in the atmosphere down to the surface. This will result in poor air quality. Air quality will gradually improve on Saturday with gradual clearing across Minnesota from north to south. This alert may need to be locally extended depending on how fast the smoke dissipates.

The thickest part of the smoke plumes will push through overnight into Saturday. NOAA’s Rapid Refresh near-surface smoke model lays the thickest part of the smoke plume over central and southern Minnesota Saturday.

The forecast model image below is for noon Saturday.

Clearing is expected from north to south this weekend. An air quality alert for parts of eastern Minnesota and Wisconsin extends until noon Sunday.

Including the tribal nations of Prairie Island and Upper Sioux Including the cities of Albert Lea, Burnsville, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Farmington, Hastings, Mankato, Northfield, Prior Lake, Rosemount, Shakopee, and Waconia

420 PM CDT Fri Jul 14 2023 ...AIR QUALITY ALERT NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT SUNDAY...

* WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has extended an Air Quality Alert for fine particles pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category.

* WHERE...South central Minnesota.

* WHEN...Until Noon CDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, may experience health effects. * ADDITIONAL

DETAILS...Smoke from wildfires in Alberta and British Columbia will continue to move across Minnesota. Air quality will gradually improve on Saturday afternoon with gradual clearing across Minnesota from north to south. Smoke is likely to linger until Sunday afternoon along and south of the Minnesota River.

As of this post, air quality readings are in the moderate range in the Twin Cities and much of eastern Minnesota. But thicker smoke at ground level is moving in from the northwest. Air quality in parts of North Dakota is in the unhealthy range.