MANKATO — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for fine particles pollution. South- central Minnesota and central is under the alert until 9 a.m. Monday.
The Air Quality Index is expected to reach the “purple” or “very unhealthy” category. Health risks are increased for everyone who breathes outdoor air containing the fine particles.
Heavy ground-level smoke from wildfires in central Canada moved into northwest Minnesota early Friday morning behind a cold front. This first band of smoke is was impacting northern Minnesota Friday afternoon as it moved east. Air quality will expected to worsen across northeast Minnesota Friday evening.
A second round of smoke was predicted to move into the state late Friday evening and be more widespread as it moves southeast. By Saturday afternoon the entire state may be impacted, the MPCA said in a news release.
The heaviest smoke on Saturday will be across the northern half of the state.
Air quality will begin to improve across western Minnesota Sunday morning as cleaner air moves in from the west. By Sunday evening, the smoke should be gone from most of the state.