Minnesotans will get their first whiff of Canadian wildfire smoke this spring after several fires developed across eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba on Thursday afternoon.
A brief period of dense smoke is expected to move across the state from the northwest to the southeast along a cold front, severely degrading air quality.
The National Weather Service in Grand Forks, North Dakota, said the smoke will likely linger anywhere from two to five hours in any one location, reaching central Minnesota by about 1 p.m.
"Consider altering outdoor plans during the period of thickest smoke," the weather service stated.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency reported an air quality alert was not anticipated due to the short window of time the smoke would be present.
The air sensor in Winnipeg showed just how quickly and dramatically the smoke affected air quality early Friday morning, going from "Good" to "Very Unhealthy" and back to "Good" in about two hours, the MPCA shared.
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Megan Buffington/KAXEThe group works to inform the PCA on environmental justice issues. Applications are due July 22, 2026. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEMinnesota Pollution Control Agency meteorologist Ryan Lueck explains how the PCA measures air quality and puts the record-breaking smoke event into context. -
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Lorie Shaull/KAXECo-hosts Heidi Holtan and Charlie Mitchell grump about heat and wildfire smoke, get charmed by little jumping ducklings, and learn about red-bellied snakes. Send us a voice memo through Speak Pipe!
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