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

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We’re breathing easier across Minnesota this Wednesday. Our trademark Minnesota summer blue sky is back for a change. What a concept.

Air quality across Minnesota Wednesday is in the range of moderate to good. The forecast calls for mainly good air quality into the upcoming weekend. A couple of smoky swipes may clip parts of northern Minnesota this week. (See the map above.)

Sunday’s passing cold front could drag down more Canadian wildfire smoke into Minnesota. Here’s the latest forecast discussion form the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s meteorology team: 

Temperatures are warming through the 70s across our state this week and will remain pretty stable into the upcoming weekend.

Our next rainmaker arrives late Thursday into Friday morning. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s FV3 model shows showers favoring central and southern Minnesota Thursday evening into Friday morning. The forecast model loop below runs between 7 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday.

A second system may produce some rainfall Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Overall, rainfall through the weekend looks likely to range between one-half inch and 1 inch across much of Minnesota. 

Here’s the European model’s artificial intelligence-enhanced rainfall output through the weekend:

Next week looks warmer again with highs in the 80s to 90s possible.

Paul Huttner

Author

Air quality has improved dramatically across Minnesota. Our next rain chance arrives late Thursday.

Breathing easier: Better air quality and bluer skies ahead

Go Deeper.

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