Duluth, Minnesota – Thick smoke from Canadian wildfires is expected to blanket northeast Minnesota through Friday evening, prompting health officials to issue an Air Quality Alert until 7 p.m. Friday for the Duluth area and communities near Lake Superior.
According to the National Weather Service in Duluth and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, wildfire smoke will drift across the state line overnight Thursday and persist into Friday, reducing air quality in Duluth, Two Harbors, Grand Marais, and the Iron Range. Areas along the North Shore and western Lake Superior are most at risk, particularly during the early morning and midday hours Friday.
Residents in Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties are urged to limit outdoor activity, especially sensitive groups such as children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions. Visibility may also drop on higher-elevation roads like Highway 61 and U.S. 53 due to denser smoke concentrations. Health officials recommend keeping windows closed, running air purifiers if available, and monitoring symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath.
Air Quality Alerts remain in effect until 7 p.m. Friday, with additional updates possible if smoke lingers into the weekend.
