Air Quality Alert Message

Full Alert Message

Air Quality Alert Message Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Relayed by National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 212 PM CDT Fri Aug 10 2018 ...Air Quality Alert in effect until 12 pm Sunday... The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particle pollution for all of Minnesota. Smoke from wildfires in western Canada will continue to affect Minnesota Friday afternoon and evening. Air Quality Indices (AQIs) in the orange category will spread eastward across northern Minnesota Friday evening, making air quality unhealthy for sensitive groups. AQIs will also be orange across far western Minnesota Friday evening as smoke continues to sit over that region. Meanwhile a thick blanket of smoke is expected to arrive in the upper-levels of the atmosphere this afternoon and evening across southern parts of the state. However, smoke is not expected to impact air quality from St Cloud, to the Twin Cities and Rochester until midday Saturday. Periods of smoke and orange AQIs will linger over the state Saturday night before a south wind brings in cleaner air by Sunday afternoon. An Air Quality Alert is issued when the AQI is expected to reach or exceed 101, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors should limit prolonged 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.