The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for Northern Minnesota due to wildfire smoke, effective through 6 a.m. Thursday, June 15.
The affected area includes Roseau, International Falls, Ely, Hibbing, Duluth, Two Harbors, Brainerd, Alexandria, Moorhead, Ortonville and the tribal nations of Grand Portage, Fond du Lac, Leech Lake, Red Lake and Mille Lacs.
Meanwhile, near-critical fire weather conditions remain possible in Northern Minnesota.
Air quality levels are expected to be in the orange air quality index, or AQI, category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. In the orange area, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged time outdoors.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires moved into Northern Minnesota beginning Tuesday evening and reached Brainerd and Alexandria by early Wednesday morning. The smoke will slowly move south during the day Wednesday and may approach St. Cloud in the evening, the alert stated. In addition, light smoke may move into southeast Minnesota on Wednesday evening.
Here's a shot taken by Caleb Wistad of a smoke-covered sun over our radar this AM . Air quality is currently UNHEALTHY in the Twin Ports and over NE MN and portions of NW WI. Limit your time outside, especially strenuous activity. More info at https://t.co/kTGrvp0rbH #mnwx #wiwx pic.twitter.com/yE6nlgAZ7k
— NWS Duluth (@NWSduluth) June 14, 2023
Winds will shift and push this smoke toward the west. Smoke will linger across much of the state throughout the day on Thursday, but concentrations should decrease below the orange category Thursday morning.
In addition, sunny skies, warm temperatures, low humidity and light winds will produce an environment for volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen to react in the air to produce elevated levels of ozone in the afternoon. Ozone will be elevated across the Twin Cities and Rochester during the afternoon hours but will decrease in the evening.
In areas where air quality is in the orange AQI category due to wildfires, the sky may look hazy and residents may smell smoke even when wildfires are far away. This air is unhealthy for sensitive groups and pollution may aggravate heart and lung disease as well as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Symptoms may include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and fatigue.
Poor air quality impacts health. Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can irritate eyes, nose and throat, and cause coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness or fatigue. Smoke particles are small enough that they can be breathed deeply into lungs and enter the bloodstream. This can lead to illnesses such as bronchitis or aggravate existing chronic heart and lung diseases, triggering heart palpitations, asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes.
This air is unhealthy for sensitive groups and pollution may aggravate heart and lung disease as well as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Symptoms may include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and fatigue.
Certain groups experience health effects from unhealthy air quality sooner than others, either because they are more sensitive to fine particle pollution or because they are exposed to larger amounts of it.
People in sensitive groups are encouraged to reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks, or do less intense activities to reduce their exposure. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plan and keep their rescue inhaler nearby.
Anyone experiencing health effects related to poor air quality should contact their health care provider. Those with severe symptoms, chest pain, trouble breathing, or who fear they may be experiencing a heart attack or stroke should call 911 immediately.
Visit the MPCA's Air quality and health webpage for information about health and indoor and outdoor air quality and how to prevent air pollution.
Visit the Minnesota Department of Health wildfire smoke webpage for actions to protect your health against wildfire smoke.
