Hazy, sunny and warm Wednesday
Air quality alert for NW Minnesota
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Above-average temperatures continue with minimal precipitation chances in the forecast. There are air quality concerns Wednesday for northwestern portions of Minnesota.
Air quality alert for NW Minnesota
The smoke from wildfires can create some stunningly dramatic skies, but air quality often suffers. That can be tough on our respiratory systems. Every once and while those air pollutants can reach the ground and cause issues.
Wednesday’s air quality forecast shows northwestern Minnesota in the orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups) category, western and central Minnesota will be in the yellow (moderate) category, with the metro and southeastern Minnesota in the green (good) category.
An air quality alert has been issued for northwestern Minnesota:
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...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued 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...North central, northwest, central, and west central Minnesota. * WHEN...Until 10 AM CDT Thursday.
Smoke will linger through Thursday morning. Air quality will improve as we tap into some easterly winds.
Temperatures will be warmer Wednesday and Thursday. Highs for Wednesday will top out in the mid-80s across the state. A cold front will stall across the central portions of the state Wednesday, limiting high temperatures for northwestern Minnesota.
Low temperatures Wednesday night will drop into the upper 50s to low 60s across the state.
Glimmer of rain in the forecast
It’s been a dry September so far. The Twin Cities is running over an inch below average for precipitation for the month. Forecast models aren’t showing any strong signature of moisture or precipitation.
Our next chance for some sporadic rain showers comes late Friday through the weekend.
We continue this warm, dry weather pattern for the foreseeable future. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center outlook is showing a prolonged period of above average temperatures:
