Minneapolis, MN – Thick smoke from Canadian wildfires will blanket much of Minnesota starting Sunday morning, prompting an Air Quality Alert that will remain in effect until 9 a.m. Tuesday. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency warns that much of the state will see air in the Red, or “Unhealthy,” category, with southeastern areas in the Orange, or “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” range.
According to the agency, smoke from wildfires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba will be pulled south around a low-pressure system moving through central Canada. Western Minnesota will feel the first impacts Sunday morning, with conditions deteriorating eastward by evening. Air quality is expected to gradually improve from west to east late Monday into Tuesday.
Residents — especially children, seniors, and those with heart or lung conditions — are urged to limit strenuous outdoor activity. Keep windows closed, reduce driving, and avoid burning wood outdoors.
The alert spans major population centers including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Rochester, and Mankato, as well as rural counties and tribal lands. Officials caution that additional alerts could be issued if smoke lingers beyond Tuesday morning.
