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The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is 

 a moderately active air quality season for this summer.

While not expected to be extreme, this year’s outlook includes air quality concerns related to ozone and wildfire smoke, especially during periods of dry, sunny weather. 

MPCA Meteorologist Matt Taraldsen says following repeated air quality problems from wildfire smoke in 2023, Minnesotans have been much more interested in air quality issues.

"We expect a season similar to 2024 which, across the entire state, wasn't too terribly bad, but across Northwestern Minnesota, we still had 11 days of alerts,” Taraldsen said. “We're not expecting something as bad as 2023, but we're still expecting multiple days of wildfire and smoke impacts.”

The agency is also rolling out a new air quality index. 

The new PM10 index will track the level of coarse pollutants in the air such as dust and dirt.  The change comes after a significant dust event in October 2024. These new alerts will better protect public health during similar events that could become more common with less snow covering the ground during the winter.

The MPCA is also expanding its communication efforts with a new MN AQI Facebook page, where forecasts, alerts and live updates during major air quality events will now be posted. 

Mark Zdechlik

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Anna Haecherl

Forecast models predict four to seven days where ozone levels may be unhealthy for sensitive groups and between 12 and 16 days of wildfire smoke impacts in Minnesota this summer.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency forecasts moderately active air quality this summer

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