Air quality concerns continue Monday

Dry and pleasant weather outside of smoky areas

Monday will be a comfortable day for early August with seasonable temperatures and low humidity, but smoke remains a concern.

Monday’s forecast

Under clear skies with low humidity, Minnesota is starting Monday with somewhat cooler than average temperatures. Most of the state is in the 50s, with a couple low 60s hanging on around the Twin Cities.

Highs will be predominantly in the low 80s, which is near-average south, and slightly above average north.

weather graphic
Monday high temperatures
National Weather Service

The weather remains dry and winds will be fairly light across much of the state. 

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Skies will be mostly sunny except for periods of smoke or hazy sunshine from the persistent issue Minnesota has had with air quality due to the fires in Canada.

The entire state is still under an air quality alert until Tuesday, although the smoke is not as thick as late last week. Some spots are occasionally making it back into the “good” category. For example, as of the 6 a.m. readings, a chunk of eastern Minnesota south and east of Brainerd, including the Twin Cities, was in the “good” air quality category. Meanwhile, at the same reading time, areas along the North Dakota border were back in the “unhealthy” category.

Most of the state is forecast make it into at least the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category at some point on Monday.

weather graphic
Air quality alert through Tuesday afternoon
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

A change in the wind pattern finally moves the smoke out, but heat and humidity return.

That extended forecast will be updated around 9 a.m.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.