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Environmental News
Dan Gunderson

Wildfire smoke returns to Minnesota this weekend

Hazy skies are seen along a rural highway
Hazy skies from Canadian wildfire smoke are seen from a Minnesota Department of Transportation camera along State Highway 210 near Tamarack on June 14, 2023.
Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Northern Minnesota could see unhealthy levels of wildfire smoke in the air this weekend. The smoky conditions might also spread into southwestern Minnesota.

An air quality alert is in effect for northwestern Minnesota, and Canadian wildfire smoke could spread across the state this weekend.

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the Red Air Quality Index category by late Friday afternoon in Grand Forks-East Grand Forks and Fargo-Moorhead. In the red category, everyone should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

A low pressure system in northeastern Minnesota is pulling in smoke from Canadian wildfires.

“As the low slowly moves to the east on Saturday, additional smoke from Canada will drift to the south,” said Minnesota Pollution Control Agency air quality forecaster Ryan Lueck.

“That’s when we’re looking at the potential for much of northern Minnesota to start seeing some impacts from at least moderate smoke, possibly heavy.”

Southwestern Minnesota could also see diminished air quality over the weekend.

Despite another active wildfire season in Canada, Minnesota has had only three air quality alerts caused by wildfire smoke so far this year compared to a dozen at this time last year.

“Up until this point, we’ve gotten pretty lucky, the smoke has transported to other places,” said Lueck. “But this weekend that smoke is being brought towards our direction and then instead of being mainly aloft, this low pressure system is helping to keep it at the surface.”

Last year Minnesota had a total of 16 wildfire smoke related air quality alerts.

The primary reason the state has avoided a repeat this summer is a change in weather patterns.

“That’s been the big difference between last year and this year is that we’ve transitioned away from El Nino into more of a neutral or a La Nina phase, which allows for different weather patterns,” said Lueck.

“Last year we had the right type of upper level winds and low level winds that transported smoke into Minnesota continuously.”

Lueck said people in northern and western Minnesota should pay attention to air quality this weekend and plan outdoor activities accordingly.