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Ground-level wildfire smoke impacting metro air quality
FOX 9 Meteorologist Cody Matz explains why wildfire smoke from northern Minnesota and Canada is causing such poor air quality. Unlike typical wildfire smoke that rises to 20,000 to 30,000 feet, this smoke is shallow and concentrated near the ground, where people live and breathe.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. (FOX 9) - Valleyfair has closed for Thursday due to the hazardous smoky air quality in Minnesota.
Valleyfair closed
What we know:
Valleyfair amusement park has announced it will close on Thursday due to the air quality. Any guest with tickets for Thursday will be able to use those tickets for any other date this season.
Air quality alert in effect
The backstory:
An air quality alert is in effect through Friday morning as wildfire smoke from fires burning in northern Minnesota and Canada creates hazardous conditions in the Twin Cities metro and much of central and northeastern Minnesota.
As of Thursday morning, Minneapolis has the second-worst air quality in the world with an air quality index of 334. Anything above 300 is considered hazardous for your health.
Minneapolis was only behind Detroit, which had a staggering AQI of 698 also due to smoky conditions.
What's next:
Relief is in sight as winds are expected to shift on Friday.