The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency extended its initial air quality alert for much of Minnesota on Tuesday, July 29, extending its forecast into the weekend.
The extended alert is tied for the longest air quality alert in the state with the St. Louis County Greenwood Fire in 2021, according to the MPCA. The alert also marks the state's longest air quality alert from Canadian wildfire smoke.
An alert this long is unusual, said Ryan Lueck, an air quality forecaster at the MPCA. Typical weather patterns allow smoke to enter Minnesota and exit within a day or two.
"But in this case, we have that strong high pressure right on the heels of multiple days of smoke being directed towards Minnesota," Lueck said. "It's certainly possible that we could have the future alerts that extend for longer than five days, but it it would be rare."
Northerly winds on the east side of a high-pressure system over southern Canada are steering wildfire smoke from Saskatchewan and Manitoba into the state Wednesday, and the system will keep the smoke at the surface.
"Smoke may remain over the state until Saturday when winds finally switch from the south," stated the MPCA's forecast.
Air quality index, or AQI, on Wednesday morning showed scores of 155 around Bemidji and 180 in Hibbing.
Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can cause shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest pain and fatigue. Fine particles can worsen symptoms from conditions like heart disease and asthma.
"In Minnesota, higher AQIs in the summer are increasingly attributed to smoke from the Canadian wildfires and those in the northern Rockies," stated the MPCA.
With no indication of wet or cool conditions for Canada and upcoming August temperatures, it's likely Minnesota will see more opportunities for poor air quality through the end of summer into fall, Lueck said.
-
Contributed/John Muhlenpoh / MSHSLMountain Iron-Buhl finishes its season with a 30-2 record. Anna Neyens and Paige Norman were named to the all-tournament team, as was Kelliher/Northome’s Kate Thayer. -
Planning and preparation for the 2026 spring wildfire season began shortly after the major blowdown storm in the Bemidji region, which saw an estimated 9 million trees downed or damaged. -
And: A new bill in the Minnesota Legislature would allow small school districts to shrink their school board size.
-
Contributed/Beltrami CountyIn a Thursday, March 12, 2026, order, Judge Jeanine Brand said the attorney general’s office showed sufficient probable cause for the case against Michelle R. Skroch to move forward. -
Contributed/US House Clerk YouTube screenshotThe legislation was previously introduced in the Senate and aims to prevent fraud in the child care assistance program. The Council on American-Islamic Relations Minnesota condemned the bill's name. -
Contributed/Minnesota Senate Media Services via YouTubeDistricts with fewer than a thousand students could ask voters to approve reducing board membership from six to five. Small districts often struggle to fill out their boards. -
Contributed/Lorie Shaull via FlickrThe North Shore saw snowfall totals closer to 8-12 inches. Another system this weekend could drop similar amounts on the areas that were missed March 12-13, 2026. -
Plus: Some aquatic invasive species prevention efforts to prepare for the impending open water season in Minnesota are already taking place.
-
Contributed/University of Minnesota ExtensionGetting an earlier start on targeted removal gives them a stronger chance to effectively manage invasive weeds over the course of an open-water season, professionals say. -
Megan Buffington/KAXETen days after the City Council approved a permit for a cannabis business in Second Harvest’s warehouse, the prospective buyer learned that the sale would not be taking place.
