MPCA extends air quality alert into Monday
Air quality is expected to reach the maroon AQI category in northeast Minnesota, which is hazardous for everyone.
MPCA extends air quality alert into Monday
REGIONAL— The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has extended its air quality alert for much of northern Minnesota through 11 a.m. on Monday, July 20. The affected area includes Brainerd, Hinckley, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, and Roseau. The alert comes despite significant rainfall that fell Friday morning across much of northern St. Louis County, where the major Minnesota fires are burning. But large fires to the north in Canada saw little rainfall and continue to burn and produce large amounts of smoke.
Despite the rainfall, smoke density was at near record levels in many communities in the region as of Friday morning. Air quality index readings in much of the St. Louis County topped 900 for a time Friday but improved somewhat by midday. Even so, air quality remained hazardous for everyone.
Some continued improvement is possible on Friday, but more smoke is expected to arrive later in the weekend and persist at least into Monday.
