Rochester, Minn. – Unhealthy air is blanketing Rochester, Winona, Austin, and much of southern Minnesota as wildfire smoke from Canada continues to push south, triggering a Red-level Air Quality Alert through 5 p.m. Saturday. People with asthma, heart conditions, children, and older adults are at higher risk, but anyone spending time outdoors could notice symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath.
According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, a thick layer of fine particulate matter is moving across every Minnesota county—Wabasha, Dodge, Olmsted, Winona, Mower, Fillmore, and Houston included—carried by northerly winds from ongoing fires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The smoke is expected to linger as high pressure stalls over the region, locking in poor air until Saturday afternoon.
In Rochester, Winona, and Dodge Center, outdoor activities may need to be canceled as air quality reaches Red/Unhealthy AQI. Residents are advised to keep windows shut, limit time outside, and use air conditioning if available. Sensitive groups should avoid any strenuous activity outdoors. Officials also recommend cutting down on vehicle trips, outdoor burning, and using wood stoves to help reduce pollution.
This event marks one of the longest stretches of widespread poor air for Minnesota this summer. Conditions should finally improve after 5 p.m. Saturday, but new advisories could be issued if winds shift or smoke returns.
