Northern Minnesota is under a new alert until Friday at 7 p.m.

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Hazy skies are ahead as temperatures climb, with wildfire smoke continuing to blanket much of the state. An air-quality alert remains in effect through Monday at 6 p.m. Temperatures will heat up over the weekend and into early next week, with highs in the 80s and 90s expected across the region.

Air-quality concerns persist due to ongoing wildfire smoke. A statewide air-quality alert is in effect through Monday at 6 p.m.

Forecast models are detecting the potential for surface-based smoke to impact air quality and visibility in the coming days.

Check the latest air quality conditions, alerts and forecast here:

The thick layer of smoke kept temperatures a few degrees cooler on Friday, but warming is still expected with highs reaching the low 80s in the metro area and the lower to mid-80s further west. The Red River Valley could even see a few readings near 90 degrees.

Low temperatures will drop into the upper 50s across many areas, with cooler readings in the mid-40s expected in northeastern Minnesota.

Smoky skies will persist through Sunday and Monday as a ridge of high pressure brings the warmest weather of the week.

Highs for Sunday will warm into the upper 80s to low 90s. 

The metro area has another chance to reach 90 degrees on Monday, marking only the second time this year. Forecast highs near 92 degrees could come close to breaking the record of 93 degrees.

Increased chance of showers and thunderstorms

After the heat, a strong cold front will bring the return of showers and thunderstorms to the state for late Monday. A marginal risk of severe weather is possible with the strongest storms remaining out west in South Dakota. Some of the storms that initiate in the Dakotas, could migrate into western Minnesota by late Monday.

A cold front will bring cooler temperatures by midweek, leading to a calm and quiet end to the workweek.

Mandy Thalhuber

Author

Hazy skies are ahead as temperatures climb, with wildfire smoke continuing to blanket much of the state. An air-quality alert remains in effect through Monday at 6 p.m. Temperatures will heat up over the weekend and into early next week, with highs in the 80s and 90s expected across the region.


Hazy skies ahead as temperatures climb

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