Canadian wildfire smoke gradually dissipates across Minnesota through Tuesday

We’re back in air quality alert mode across Minnesota. Thick smoke from a swath of Canadian wildfires is drifting southeast into Minnesota. The plume extends from British Columbia and Alberta all the way south across Minnesota to Iowa on Monday.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has extended the air quality alert for southern MInnesota until 11 p.m. Monday.

Air quality is expected to reach the red AQI category in southern Minnesota, which is unhealthy for everyone.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has extended the air quality alert for southern Minnesota. The alert remains in effect until 11 p.m. on Monday, May 13. The affected area includes the Twin Cities metro, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Rochester, Winona, Mankato, and the tribal nation of Prairie Island.

Heavy smoke will linger across southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro though the day on Monday. This band of smoke will slowly drift to the south throughout the day and air quality will begin improving from north to south within the alert area. Air quality should improve across the Twin Cities metro during the afternoon and the rest of southern Minnesota can expect improving air quality by the end of the day.

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, across southern Minnesota. This area includes Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Rochester, Winona, Mankato, and the tribal nation of Prairie Island. In the red area, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and limit time spent outdoors. Everyone should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across the Twin Cities metro. This area includes the Twin Cities metro. In the orange area, sensitive groups should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.

The rash of forest fires extends from northwest into central Canada. This zone has been upwind of Minnesota for the past few days.

Air quality is gradually improving across Minnesota. The prevailing winds will shift and blow most of the smoke south and west of Minnesota by Tuesday.

Here’s NOAA’s HRRR smoke model forecast image for 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Notice how most of the smoke plume has been blown to the south and west of Minnesota.

With dozens of large fires burning across western Canada, we’ll have to watch for additional waves of smoke across MInnesota in the coming weeks.

Enjoy our clear spring skies on good air quality days while you can.