Duluth, MN – Duluth and ten other northern Minnesota counties are under an air quality red alert through Sunday night, with officials warning residents of unhealthy conditions caused by wildfire smoke. The alert covers St. Louis, Itasca, Beltrami, Koochiching, Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Lake, Carlton, Hubbard, and Clearwater counties, where everyone—not just sensitive groups—faces elevated health risks.
According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, PM2.5 pollution will keep air quality in the red zone until midnight Sunday, with the worst effects expected in Duluth, Hibbing, Bemidji, and International Falls. Residents in these areas should avoid outdoor activity, keep windows closed, and run air conditioners on recirculate to protect their health. Local health departments recommend using certified air filters indoors and wearing N95 masks outside if necessary.
Travelers may see reduced visibility on highways and local roads, and schools or outdoor events may be impacted. Those with respiratory or heart conditions, children, and older adults should check air quality updates before heading outside and be prepared for symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath.
Conditions could improve by Monday, but officials caution that shifting winds could prolong unhealthy air. More advisories may follow; residents are urged to check for updates and limit outdoor exposure until the alert ends.
