Canadian wildfire smoke moving back into Minnesota this week

Smoke is expected to return to Northern Minnesota on Monday evening, July 28, impacting air quality Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for all of Northern Minnesota on Monday that begins at 6 a.m. Tuesday and runs until 11 p.m. Wednesday.

A cold front will reach northwest Minnesota by Monday afternoon. As the front passes through, northwest winds behind the front will pull more wildfire smoke into the state.

Northwest Minnesota will be impacted Monday evening. Northerly winds on Tuesday will bring the smoke farther south. 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.

A ridge of high pressure is expected to build over the western U.S. this week, and this will produce persistent northerly winds over our region through at least Thursday. By Wednesday, smoke may reach southern Minnesota and impact the entire state.

Smoke may remain over the state until Friday, when winds finally switch from the south.

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