Weather Window

Carlton/South St. Louis-Central St. Louis-
Crow Wing-Koochiching-North Cass-North Itasca-North St. Louis-
Northern Aitkin-Northern Cook/Northern Lake-Pine-South Aitkin-South
Cass-South Itasca-Southern Cook/North Shore-Southern Lake/North
Shore-
Including the tribal nations of Fond du Lac, Grand Portage,
Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, and Red Lake Including the cities of
Brainerd, Duluth, Ely, Hibbing, Hinckley, International Falls, and
Two Harbors
147 PM CDT Sun Aug 1 2021

...AIR QUALITY ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 3 PM CDT TUESDAY...

* WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air
Quality Alert for fine particle pollution. The Air Quality Index
(AQI) is expected to reach the Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive
Groups category.

* WHERE...North central and northeast Minnesota.

* WHEN...Through 3 PM CDT Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease
(including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, may
experience health effects.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Smoke from Canadian wildfires lingers over
most of Minnesota. There has been some improvement Sunday afternoon
to the air quality. However, on Sunday evening more smoke is expected
to move into Minnesota.  This reinforcing batch of heavy smoke along
with smoke recirculating from the past several days will create high
levels of fine particle pollution. Fine particle levels will begin to
improve Monday as southerly winds start moving the smoke out of the
state. Fine particle levels are expected to reach the Orange AQI
category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive individuals,
across northern  Minnesota with Red, a level considered unhealthy for
all individuals possible along the Canadian border. This risk for Red
AQI includes International Falls. The forecast for Orange AQI
includes Duluth, Brainerd, Ely, Virginia, Grand Rapids, and Hibbing.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including
asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, should limit
prolonged or heavy exertion.

For information on current air quality conditions in your area and to
sign up for daily air quality forecasts and alert notifications by
email, text message, phone, or the Minnesota Air mobile app, visit
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/current-air-quality. You can find
additional information about health and air quality at
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/why-you-should-care-air-quality-and-
health.