Northern Minnesotans looking forward to enjoying this weekend's warm weather should plan for poor air quality as Canadian wildfire smoke moves into the state.
The smoke prompted air quality alerts for the entire state Friday, May 30, that will last until Monday. Northern Minnesota is especially impacted by the poor conditions.
The highest concentration of smoke is expected Saturday morning and afternoon, with a second wave of smoke arriving Sunday morning and a third on Monday.
Carlton, Itasca, Beltrami, Hubbard, Wadena, Otter Tail and Wilkin counties and north are expected to reach the red air quality index category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone. People in these areas should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.
The rest of the state is expected to reach the orange AQI category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, who should limit exertion and time spent outdoors.
Sensitive groups include people with asthma or other breathing conditions, heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes, as well as pregnant people, children and older adults.
The state’s Pollution Control Agency said multiple rounds of smoke from Manitoba and Saskatchewan will impact Minnesotans at least through this weekend.
The first wave began with an air quality alert for St. Louis, Carlton, Lake and Cook counties Thursday morning.
PCA estimates the smoke will move farther west over time, with additional smoke spreading into the state from the northwest beginning Saturday morning.
While Minnesotans may have noticed milky skies and a red sunrise Friday morning, PCA said that "smoke aloft" does not impact air quality. But the areas of "surface smoke" moving southwest does, also bringing reduced visibility and the smell of smoke.
Find the last air quality info from the PCA here.
