Air Quality

Periods of reduced air quality due to wildfire smoke are expected for the rest of the warm season as fires continue to burn in Northern Minnesota and Canada.

The American Veterinary Medical Association is reminding people to be mindful of the impacts of wildfire smoke on animals, too, amid hazardous air quality in Northern Minnesota.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency meteorologist Ryan Lueck explains how the PCA measures air quality and puts the record-breaking smoke event into context.

Extreme fire conditions caused some of the 17 wildfires burning in the Superior National Forest to rapidly spread July 13-14, 2026.

All of Northern Minnesota is under a red flag warning Thursday and Friday, May 14-15, 2026, due to low humidity and dry, windy conditions.

MPCA meteorologists are predicting an active air quality season for 2026, comparable to 2024. A strong El Niño cycle is expected to bring warmer and drier conditions.

Smoke will reach as far south as Detroit Lakes, Brainerd and Hinckley by the end of the day on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.