REGIONAL — The 2021 record for longest air quality alert was broken last week, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said, with six straight days of poor air quality across the state.
Most of the smoke moved out of the area Sunday, Aug. 3. But more smoky air moved in by Tuesday and state officials say we can expect frequent smoky outbreaks for months to come. That’s according to Matt Taraldsen, a meteorologist with the MPCA, who said any northern front could bring more unhealthy air until at least winter.
“The fires that are burning in Canada are burning both above ground and below ground in the peat bogs, and they’re not going to be put out by the time winter falls. So we’re thinking that winter is going to be what finally puts them out,” Taraldsen said.
“And so, unfortunately, anytime we have northerly flow for the rest of the summer into the fall is fair game for wildfire smoke, depending on the weather conditions.”
Taraldsen advised Minnesotans to check air quality daily as they plan out the rest of their summers.
“People can be outdoors when the air quality is poor. You just have to pay attention to what your body’s telling you,” Taraldsen said.
“Pay attention to those symptoms: burning eyes, itchy throat; those are the first symptoms that something’s going on. Your body’s being stressed by smoke, and that’s when you want to go indoors or into an area that has cleaner air.”