Duluth, Minn. – Thick wildfire smoke will continue affecting northeastern Minnesota through Friday, keeping air quality at unhealthy levels for many residents and prompting officials to urge people to limit time outdoors over the next several hours.
According to the National Weather Service in Duluth and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, dense smoke will persist overnight and remain across much of the Northland through at least Friday afternoon. A smoke timing model released Thursday afternoon shows heavy concentrations lingering across St. Louis County during the overnight hours, remaining widespread through the Friday morning commute before gradually shifting east later in the day. Air Quality Alerts remain in effect across the region.
Communities from Duluth to Hibbing, Virginia and Hermantown are expected to experience the greatest impacts. Sensitive groups, including children, older adults and anyone with asthma, heart disease or other respiratory conditions, should avoid prolonged outdoor activity. Even healthy individuals may notice coughing, throat irritation or shortness of breath during periods of heavier smoke.
St. Louis County has opened several public locations offering cleaner indoor air. Residents in northern St. Louis County can use the Tower Civic Center, Hibbing Public Library, Virginia Public Library and Iron Trail Motors Event Center. In the southern part of the county, cleaner indoor spaces include the Downtown Duluth Library, West Duluth Library, Mount Royal Library, Downtown Duluth YMCA, Hermantown Hockey Arena, Hermantown YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center and Aspirus St. Luke’s Sports & Event Center.
Residents are encouraged to keep windows closed, run air conditioning on recirculate if available, avoid strenuous outdoor exercise and monitor local air quality updates. Additional advisories could be issued if smoke concentrations remain elevated into the weekend.
