Canadian fires trigger southern Minnesota air quality alert

The sun sets over downtown Minneapolis and the Mississippi River
The sun sets over downtown Minneapolis and the Mississippi River as seen from the Franklin Avenue bridge on Thursday. The haze, and the intense red-orange color of the sun, are due to smoke from Canadian wildfires; northwest winds have carried the smoke across much of Minnesota.
Andrew Krueger | MPR News

An air quality alert has been issued for much of the southern half of the state due to pollution blowing in from Canada wildfires.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the affected area include the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Mankato, Marshall, Willmar, Hutchinson, Ortonville, and the Upper Sioux and Prairie Island Tribal nations.

The MPCA says air quality is expected to worsen as the day goes on, but then improve by the weekend.

The alert is in effect until 9 p.m. Friday.

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