Air quality alert Tuesday for western Minnesota

This year is setting records for air quality alerts in Minnesota. Our latest alert includes roughly the western third of Minnesota (see the map above). It runs from 6 a.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday.

By my estimated count, this looks like the 30th air quality alert for parts of Minnesota in 2023. The previous record was 21 just two years ago.

Below is the latest language on this week’s alert from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for western Minn. The alert takes effect at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, and runs until 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30. The affected area includes Alexandria, Marshall, Worthington, Ortonville, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, Roseau, and the tribal nations of Upper Sioux, Leech Lake, and Red Lake.

Heavy ground-level smoke from wildfires in the Northwest Territories and northern Alberta is currently blanketing most of western Canada. This smoke will be brought into the Dakotas and western Minn. early Tuesday morning by northerly winds. The smoke will quickly move south across the western one-third of the state, impacting northwest Minn. in the morning, then the southwest part of the state in the afternoon through early Wednesday morning. The duration of smoke impacts will be brief at any one location, but concentrations may be very high and reach the Red AQI category for a few hours. Air quality will improve across southwest Minn. on Wednesday morning.

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

Smoke from Canadian wildfires will push into western Minnesota on Tuesday.

Here’s the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Rapid Refresh model near-surface smoke output for 4 p.m. Tuesday:

Air quality in most of eastern Minnesota is expected to hover in the moderate (yellow) category on Tuesday. Good (green) air quality is expected in northeastern Minnesota.

Below is the forecast discussion from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Updated Mon, Aug 28, 2023

An air quality alert will go into effect at 6 a.m. tomorrow for western Minnesota. A large area of heavy ground-level smoke is currently blanketing much of western Canada. A weak cold front will move across the state today, and winds will become northwesterly behind this system. Smoke will begin moving towards western Minnesota today. Light smoke will reach northwest Minnesota today, and air quality should reach the Yellow (moderate) category in this region. Central Minnesota may see some hazy skies due to elevated smoke, however, this smoke isn't expected to reach the ground. The rest of the state can expect air quality in the Green (good) category. Heavy smoke should reach northwest Minnesota early tomorrow and will move south through the day. The western one-third of the state will be impacted, and air quality may reach the Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) category in this region tomorrow. Smoke impacts at any one location will be brief, however, several hours of heavy smoke is possible. The rest of the state can expect air quality in the Yellow category. The smoke may linger across southwest MN Wednesday until winds switch from the south and push the smoke out of the state. However, smoke should disperse on Wednesday and air quality should improve.