Air quality for Minnesota near record unhealthy levels due to wildfire smoke
Ian Leonard explains Minnesota's 'unhealthy for all' air quality
Most of Minnesota was under an air quality alert Tuesday due to "unhealthy air for all" conditions caused by wildfires in Canada. FOX 9 Chief Meteorologist Ian Leonard explains, and offers insight on when we might get some relief.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - It smells like a bonfire outside on Tuesday due to another day of poor air quality caused by smoke from the wildfires in Canada.
Long-time Twin Cities meteorologist Paul Douglas posted to social media Tuesday's Air Quality Index was comparable to a record set in July 2021, which had a one-hour level of 260. Tuesday morning's AQI in the metro was 264.
Matt Taraldsen, a meteorologist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, joined Amy Hockert on FOX 9's All Day streaming show to explain what it means. Much of Minnesota is in the orange or red level, which is considered unhealthy. Taraldsen explains it means that people should limit their time outdoors and under exertion.
MPCA says air quality unhealthy due to Canada wildfires
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Meteorologist Matt Taraldsen says much of the state is under unhealthy air quality conditions on Tuesday due to wildfires in Canada.
Those levels affect people with asthma, COPD, children, elderly and anyone who is outside for an extended period of time. It also applies to pets.
Poor air quality Tuesday due to wildfire smoke
Local perspective:
A batch of heavy surface Canadian wildfire smoke is pushing through Minnesota Tuesday into Wednesday, prompting the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to issue an air quality alert through noon Wednesday.
READ MORE: Minnesota weather: Rainy start Tuesday as wildfire smoke leads to poor air quality
The wildfires in Canada have produced large amounts of smoke, which has pushed into Minnesota behind a cold front, the MPCA says. Concentrations of surface-based smoke are high enough for people to see and smell the smoke.
"The smell test is pretty good. If you can go outside and immediately see or smell smoke, that’s a pretty good indication that you’re likely in that red," Taraldsen said.
FOX 9 meteorologist Cody Matz says the wildfire smoke from Canada is creating some of the poorest air quality for the Twin Cities metro within the past couple of decades. The Twin Cities is under a "very unhealthy" air quality category on Tuesday morning, which the metro has only seen a couple of times.
Tuesday's overall air quality forecast lists the Twin Cities and much of south-central and northeastern Minnesota as having "unhealthy" air quality, while the southern and portions of central Minnesota have "unhealthy for sensitive groups" air quality. Northwestern Minnesota's air quality is listed as "moderate" in Tuesday's forecast.
As of Tuesday morning, the MPCA says the cold front has entered southeastern Minnesota, bringing smoke with it. The MPCA says thunderstorms have developed in the vicinity of the cold front, which have the potential to help clean the air. That being said, it is not expected to eliminate poor air quality all together.
While the rain moves out on Tuesday, the clouds and smoky skies persist. Wildfire smoke from Canada will be noticeable at ground level in the Twin Cities metro area, with an air quality alert in effect through Wednesday morning. The smoke is expected to gradually shift eastward in the evening and overnight hours.
The MPCA says poor air quality may linger from Tuesday into Wednesday across areas in and around Lake Superior. Closer to the metro, smoke should clear out between 7 and 10 p.m. Taraldsen says the wildfires in Canada will likely be an ongoing issue most of the summer.
"It’s safe to say that these fires are going to be around for the summer. While we have been getting rain here in Minnesota, they have not been getting rain in central Canada. As long as those wildfires are burning, there is risk," Taraldsen said.