Smoke is expected to return to Northern Minnesota on Monday evening, July 28, impacting air quality the rest of the week.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for all of Northern Minnesota on Monday that begins at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the MPCA updated its alert, extending the alert to Saturday. With the upgrade, the MPCA says it ties the longest air quality alert in the state with the St. Louis County Greenwood fire in 2021.
Northerly winds will continue transporting waves of heavy surface smoke from wildfires across Manitoba and Saskatchewan into Minnesota. The agency says smoke will move south across all of Minnesota and linger through Saturday afternoon. The smoke will be reinforced by an area of high pressure that will create light winds and limit the dispersion of smoke.
"The air quality alert has been expanded to include all of Minnesota and extended until Saturday afternoon when the air quality is forecasted to improve," stated the release.
Air quality is expected to reach the Red, or Unhealthy, category for the northern third of the state and Orange, or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, category for the central third of the state.
Populations most at risk of health problems related to air pollution:
- people with lung diseases, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- infants and young children
- people who work or exercise outdoors
- adults over 65
- people with a cardiovascular disease
- people in poverty; people who lack access to health care
- people who smoke or are exposed to second-hand smoke
- people working in occupations where there is high exposure to contaminated air
- people who spend a lot of time near busy roadways
This story was updated on July 29, 2025, to reflect an updated air quality alert from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
-
A one-month paving preservation project started Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, for highways 1, 71 and 72. The Minnesota Department of Transportation says to expect delays. -
Department of Natural Resources climatologist Pete Boulay discusses how the state defines basins, the perennial debate with Wisconsin (Spoiler: We win) and lake names. -
St. Louis County spring wildfires cause $2.3M in damage; MN's DWI penalties get tougher with new lawPlus: the administrative trial is underway on whether Northern Township will become a city or Bemidji's boundaries will include land around Lake Bemidji; and a new study by the University of Minnesota indicates the surf from wakeboats can cause ecological harm in depths less than 20 feet.
-
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe Crow Wing County Fair continues through Aug. 3, 2025. -
Scott Rodgerson/UnsplashThe new law, effective Aug. 1, 2025, expands the state's ignition interlock program and extends the "lookback" period for prior DWI convictions from 10 to 20 years. -
Dani Fraher/KAXEThe vast majority of the damage was caused by the Camp House Fire, according to St. Louis County. Over 200 structures were damaged, 16 of which were homes. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe trial on whether the city broadens its boundary around the lake or Northern Township becomes a city will take months, as both seek to install municipal services around Lake Bemidji. -
Contributed/Tony Webster via FlickrThe Public Utilities Commission, which must approve the sale, is taking comment on a judge's recommendation to block the sale and a settlement between the investors and the Department of Commerce. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXERetired rural mail carriers Julie Crabb and John Latimer reflect on how KAXE kept them company on their routes and why supporting local public radio matters now more than ever. -
Events this week include Miss Minnesota send-off in Park Rapids, Beltrami County Fair in Bemidji, National Night Out and Range Iron Pride in Virginia.
