* WHAT…The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air
Quality Alert for fine particles pollution. The Air Quality
Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Orange or Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups category.
* WHERE…Portions of central Minnesota.
* WHEN…Until 11 PM CDT Thursday.
* 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 wildfires in northwest Canada
has moved into north central Minnesota behind a cold front. This
smoke is beginning to mix to the ground and fine particle
levels have climbed into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI
category across central and southern Minnesota. This smoke will
linger along a frontal boundary that will stall over the
southern part of the state. Rainfall is expected across this
same region through Thursday and this may help reduce smoke
levels in some areas. However, it’s possible this smoke may
linger through the end of the day on Thursday.
