Tuesday, Aug. 12, brought some relief of Canadian wildfire smoke across much of Minnesota, but a new band is expected to move in across the northern region.
Northwest winds will bring another narrow band of ground-level smoke from wildfires in Canada into Northern Minnesota, prompting the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to extend its air quality alert through 11 p.m. Wednesday. Smoke will reach as far south as Detroit Lakes, Brainerd and Hinckley by the end of the day on Tuesday.
High pressure will move into the region on Wednesday and winds will become light. Ground-level smoke will stall and continue to impact the northern one-third of the state on Wednesday, the MPCA stated. The smoke should begin to disperse and air quality should improve by Wednesday evening.
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across Northern Minnesota. In the orange area, sensitive groups should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.
-
And: Carlton County continue discussion of data center moratorium; MN could have its first saint; and business owners assess paid leave law -
Nearly 75,000 people were approved for benefits under the state's new paid leave law. State officials this week provided an update on the first six weeks of the program. -
Contributed/Carlton County Board Meeting Recording / CivicMediaA motion was started at the Carlton County Committee of the Whole meeting July 7, 2026, for an interim ordinance on the development of data centers. -
Contributed/Leslie LucasSoccer super fans Dan Gannon, Bianca Karjalainen and Chris Walker share their favorite moments partway through the 2026 World Cup. Hear more soccer talk Fridays at 8:40 a.m. on "Futbol is Life!" -
Contributed/Leona CichyDuring the week of July 7, 2026, we enjoy reports of squid spiders, tiny toads, and summer swimming. Staff phenologist John Latimer responds. -
Plus: Second Harvest Northland selects a new site for the Grand Rapids Food Shelf; and the St. Louis County Landfill may get double the trash with expansion in the five-county region.
-
Contributed/Becker County Sheriff's Office Facebook PageThe storm caused damage to buildings, trees and power lines. Thousands experienced power outages due to the storm. -
Contributed/iNaturalist user riversedgeDuring the Phenology Report for the week of July 7, 2026 Staff Phenologist John Latimer remarks on blooming wildflowers, the poisonous water hemlock and crab spiders.Send us a voice memo through SpeakPipe! -
Erin Bowman/KAXEThe nonprofit's new food shelf location in downtown Grand Rapids is closer to other services and more walkable compared to the current location off Highway 2 in LaPrairie. -
Chelsey Perkins/Datawrapper graphicThe location of the July 6, 2026, incident is an area commonly used as a swimming beach, and the woman was reportedly swimming at the time.
